Governor Hochul Announces $395 Million in State Funding to Support Universal Free Breakfast and Lunch for Nearly 2.5 Million Students Daily
By Fauzia J. Choudhury
Despite concerns over federal food assistance cuts nationwide, New York State is reaffirming its commitment to providing free breakfast and lunch to students across the state.
Governor Kathy Hochul announced Monday, October 26, that New York’s enacted Fiscal Year 2026–27 budget includes $395 million to support the state’s Universal Free School Meals program. The allocation represents an increase of $55 million from the previous fiscal year.
According to state officials, approximately 2.5 million free meals are served to students across New York every school day. Since the beginning of the current school year in September, schools have provided approximately 75 million meals. The program can save families up to $1,600 annually in grocery expenses for each child.
Under the statewide initiative, all students attending participating public school districts, charter schools and private schools can receive free breakfast and lunch, regardless of their family’s income, provided their schools participate in the federal National School Breakfast and Lunch Programs.
The announcement comes amid concerns that changes to the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) could affect food security for millions of American families. SNAP and Medicaid participation can help determine whether children automatically qualify for free school meals. A decline in participation in these programs could also affect federal funding for school nutrition services.
New York officials say the state’s additional investment is intended to protect access to school meals and ensure that children do not lose this essential benefit because of changes in federal assistance programs.
State Assemblymember Jessica González-Rojas also voiced support for universal school meals, emphasizing that no child should go hungry and no family should have to struggle to afford food. Access to nutritious meals, she noted, is essential to children’s education, development and overall well-being.
Children from families receiving SNAP or Medicaid may qualify automatically for free school meals under applicable eligibility rules. Families not enrolled in these programs may also be eligible through other qualification procedures.
Families can find information about school nutrition programs and eligibility through the New York State Education Department’s Child Nutrition website.
