Among SOFSA’s policy priorities for 2023 has been advocating alongside key statewide partners for New York State to join states from across the country in guaranteeing free school meals to all students. Co-led by Hunger Solutions New York and Community Food Advocates, the Healthy School Meals for All Coalition worked tirelessly with lawmakers to make the case for the inclusion of a universal school meals provision in the FY2024 state budget. While the full universal meals request did not make its way to the final budget, the state did allocate an additional $134.6M to expand access to free school meals.
These funds expanded the Community Eligibility Provision – often called “CEP” – enabling more districts to qualify. CEP is a federal provision that allows high-poverty schools to provide free breakfast and lunch to all students. This option increases school meal participation by removing stigma, maximizes federal reimbursements, reduces administrative paperwork, and eliminates unpaid school meal debt.
Studies have found that having access to free school meals is linked to improved attendance, lower tardiness, reduced disciplinary referrals and a reduction in health-related issues, both mental and physical. By eliminating these barriers that students may find without having access to no-cost school meals, students will have a greater opportunity to excel academically.
In support, Stephanie Wu Winter from No Kid Hungry New York writes, “No-cost school meals are one of the most effective ways to help kids get the food they need so they can thrive in the classroom. That’s why No Kid Hungry fought so hard along with the Healthy School Meals for All New York Kids campaign this year to expand access to breakfast and lunch across the state in this year’s budget and were delighted to work with SOFSA as part of the coalition”.
In Onondaga County, 8 school districts will be offering free breakfast and lunch to students for the 2023-24 school year. These districts include: East-Syracuse Minoa, Lafayette, Liverpool, Lyncourt, North Syracuse, Syracuse, Syracuse Academy of Science, Solvay, Southside Academy, and North Syracuse in their first year of offering no-cost meals to 8 out of 11 of their schools.
“As a public-school parent”, says Stephanie Wu Winter, “I have seen how no-cost meals can level the playing field for students and this investment is going to make a huge difference for thousands and thousands of families within Onondaga County and across the State”.
“As a public-school parent, I have seen how no-cost meals can level the playing field for students and this investment is going to make a huge difference for thousands and thousands of families within Onondaga County and across the State”.
Stephanie Wu Winter, No Kid Hungry New York
While this investment to expand CEP was a critical step in the right direction, New York State can and must finish the job by providing school meals at no cost to all students. SOFSA and our partners from across the state will continue to advocate for the adoption of universally free school meals in the upcoming budget cycle.
To join the Policy & Planning Committee to support advocacy for this and other important food policy issues, add your information to this form: https://forms.gle/3gwELcQB9waLGVy79.