Governor Kathy Hochul announced a free breakfast and lunch program for more than 2.7 million students in New York.
Hochul announced the program as her fifth proposal as part of the “affordability agenda” for the 2025 State of the State. Hochul said the “historic initiative ensures every single one of New York’s over 2.7 million students can receive breakfast and lunch for free at school. This monumental program will help save parents money, address food insecurity among New York kids, and create more opportunities for students to succeed.”
The Governor’s office said that offering free school meals is an effective way to help keep kids in school and able to focus in the classroom. By eliminating any financial requirements to receive this benefit, New York State will level the playing field and give parents back the money they would be spending.
Governor Hochul unveiled the proposal on Long Island at Westbury Middle School.
Nassau-Suffolk School Boards Association Executive Director Bob Vecchio said, “We are grateful to the Governor for advancing this cause and leading the way on this issue. Food insecurities impact so many communities in every region of New York State. By supporting this initiative, it eliminates the issue of food insecurities in our schools for so many, while also making sure the students who will benefit by this measure won’t suffer from the stigma attached with being eligible for free or reduced meals.”
“The research is clear: good food in the lunchroom creates good grades in the classroom,” Governor Hochul said. “I'm proposing free school meals for every student in New York – giving kids the sustenance they need and putting more money back in parents' pockets.”
Free school meals are estimated to save families $165 per child in grocery spending each month and have been shown to support learning, boost test scores, and improve attendance and classroom behavior.
This is the first time New York State has tried to implement a program this widespread. The FY 2025 Enacted Budget included $180 million to help incentivize eligible schools to participate in the federal Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) program, allowing all students in participating schools to eat breakfast and lunch at no charge regardless of their families.
This new State of the State initiative will cover the cost of free lunch and breakfast for every student at every school in New York State regardless of their participation in the program, which will expand eligibility to nearly 300,000 additional students.