In an effort to combat food insecurity and take a chunk out of the grocery bills for millions of New York families, Governor Kathy Hochul announced a plan to offer free breakfast and lunch for every student in the state; this initiative is part of her broader affordability agenda for the 2025 State of the State, as reported by the Governor's Office. Over 2.7 million students stand to benefit from the universal school meal program, which is expected to save parents an estimated $165 per month per child in grocery expenses.
During an event at Westbury Middle School on Long Island, Governor Hochul emphasized that this program is not only about easing the financial burdens on families but also about ensuring that every child, regardless of socioeconomic status, has access to the nutrition they need to succeed academically. "The research is clear: good food in the lunchroom creates good grades in the classroom," Governor Hochul told the gathered audience. By eliminating the financial requirement, free school meals will create a level playing field for all students in New York, supporting effective learning, boosting test scores, and improving attendance and classroom behavior, as reported by the Governor's Office.
New York has not seen an undertaking of this magnitude before in regard to school meals. In addition to the universal meals initiative, the FY 2025 Enacted Budget included $180 million to encourage schools to join the federal Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), a provision that has enabled students in participating schools to eat for free, but now this new proposal will extend to nearly 300,000 additional students regardless of CEP participation.
Backing for this initiative is widespread, with endorsements coming from educational leaders and hunger advocacy organizations alike. The President of New York State United Teachers, Melinda Person, highlighted the daily encounters of educators with hungry students, pointing out that universal free meals will help "reduce food anxiety, improve mental and physical health, and support students' ability to thrive," as noted by the Governor's Office. Similarly, organizations like Community Food Advocates and Hunger Solutions New York are celebrating the Governor's commitment to feeding New York's students, with CEO Andrés J. Vives applauding the initiative for "alleviate hunger, support children’s mental and physical health, and provide much-needed financial relief to families."
Furthermore, the universal school meals policy is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Governor Hochul's strategies to increase food and nutrition security in New York State; several ongoing programs under the Department of Health and the Department of Agriculture and Markets, including Nourish New York, Farm-to-School, and the Regional School Food Infrastructure Grant Program, continue to provide nourishment and education to residents across the state. More details about these food security programs are available on the Department of Health website.
