Gov. Kathy Hochul on Friday announced her intent to call for free breakfast and lunches for all students in New York State schools, an action meant to keep kids prepared to learn and to destigmatize financial difficulties in the homes of some students.

In the fifth proposal linked to her upcoming State of the State address, Hochul said the move would provide breakfast and lunch to more than 2.7 million students, helping their parents save money and taking away the prospect of hungry kids not being able to concentrate in schools or becoming disruptive.

“The research is clear: Good food in the lunchroom creates good grades in the classroom,” 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.”

Currently, the Buffalo Public School District qualifies for the federal Community Eligibility Provision, which allows for any district or group of schools within a larger district, or individual schools with 25% or more students eligible for free or reduced-price school meals, to provide all meals during the school day to all students without any charge to them.

If approved, it would mean an additional 300,000 students statewide would receive free meals twice a day during the school year.

An estimated one in seven children statewide and one in five children in Western New York, are suffering from food insecurity, defined as not always being sure of when they’ll eat again on a daily basis.

“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. 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,” a statement released by Hochul’s office says. If a student currently buys lunch in school, the proposal would stand to save parents an estimated $2,000 per child per family during the school year.

Under the current system, families are eligible for free lunch and breakfast if they have an income of $39,000 per year for a family of four; reduced-cost lunch is available for families with an income of $55,500 for a family of four.

“In the wealthiest country in the world, this can no longer be tolerated,” Hochul said of students going hungry in school.

Previous proposals for universal school meals have put the price tag at about $250 million. In New York State, the current cost for free meals is $145 million for low-income families.

In addition to Buffalo Public Schools, all New York City schools provide free meals to students, as do other local districts, including Springville-Griffith School District. A similar program had been in place, with federal support, when schools reopened following the brunt of the covid pandemic.

The proposal is said to have bipartisan support in Albany.

Pictures of Niagara Falls

Pictures from both the American and Canadian sides of Niagara Falls.

Gallery Credit: Canva

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