Final Enacted State Budget Allocates $134.6M to Expand Access to Free School Meals through the Community Eligibility Provision New state funding will allow schools participating in the Community Eligibility Provision to receive a state subsidy to provide free meals to all students. |
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The final enacted state budget includes $134.6 million to fund a new “Community Eligibility Provision state subsidy” starting in the 2023-2024 school year. The Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) is a federal provision that allows high-poverty schools to offer school meals at no cost to all students. Many schools are eligible for CEP but do not receive full federal reimbursement for all meals served; New York’s investment will close that gap in funding, enabling all CEP-eligible schools to participate and offer meals to all students at no charge. Note that schools must enroll in CEP to tap into this new state funding. While this funding does not provide universal free school meals for all students statewide, it is an important first step. We would like to thank the Governor and the Legislature for their leadership on this issue. $134.6M to ensure more children have access to healthy school meals at no cost to their families is a step in the right direction. This important step was achieved by the tireless advocacy and support of the Healthy School Meals for All New York Kids coalition partners – thank you! This coalition is committed to ensuring all students have access to nutritious meals at school, and we will continue to advocate for full funding for free school meals for all in the next state budget. Read the coalition’s full statement on the new budget here. |
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Action Needed TODAY: Amplify Our Response on Social Media This new funding to expand access to CEP is a first step toward statewide universal school meals. Please help share the coalition’s response on social media to lay the groundwork for continued advocacy for a fully funded Healthy School Meals for All program. |
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