New York served 396 million free meals to 2.7M students
Governor Kathy Hochul announced that during the 2025-2026 school year, New York State served 396 million free school meals, benefiting 2.7 million students.
This initiative, part of the Universal School Meals Program launched last year, aims to ensure that every student has access to a healthy breakfast and lunch at participating schools. By removing financial barriers, the program alleviates the burden on families, saving them approximately $450 million per month on grocery costs.
Governor Hochul emphasized that no student should go hungry, highlighting the positive impact of nutritious meals on mental well-being and academic performance. At a time when families are concerned about the affordability of everyday items, New York is proud to support our children’s success and bring down costs for families statewide,” said Governor Hochul.
New York State Education Department Commissioner Betty A. Rosa reinforced the program’s importance, stating that every student deserves regular access to healthy meals, which supports their readiness to learn and contributes to more equitable school communities.
The 2023-2024 budget allocated $395 million for school meals, marking a $55 million increase from the previous year. This funding mandates all school districts, including charter and nonpublic schools involved in the national school lunch and breakfast programs, to provide free meals to students, regardless of their family’s income. The state will cover costs for meals served to students not already qualifying for free meals, thereby fostering student well-being and academic success across New York.
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