Impact of Expanded Free School Meals in New York: A Statewide Assessment
United Message from Surveyed NY Parents and Schools: We Need Statewide Universal Free School Meals
A new assessment from Hunger Solutions New York reveals the transformative impact of universal free school meals on families and schools across the state. In schools where the program is available, students experience less hunger and stigma and are more prepared to learn; families struggling with inflation receive financial relief; and school nutrition programs run more efficiently, while also reporting better meal quality.
New York has taken incremental steps toward universal free school meals in recent state budgets but 284,000 students in 600 schools remain without access in the 2024-2025 school year. During this period, Hunger Solutions New York conducted a series of surveys with New York parents and school professionals to capture their perspectives on the state’s expansion of free school meals.
Survey findings make a powerful case for universal free school meals:
87% of parents support this policy, and an overwhelming majority of school professionals report its benefits in the classroom and beyond.
Now, New York is poised to enact statewide universal school meals. Governor Hochul and both houses of the Legislature proposed full funding in their FY2026 budget proposals. The measure must remain intact through final budget negotiations to ensure that all 2.7 million New York students can access free meals at school.
Assessment Overview
Hunger Solutions New York surveyed 420 parents and 227 school professionals, including leaders, educators, and food service personnel in New York schools, both with and without universal free meals. The findings highlight widespread support for the program and add to the robust body of research linking it to far-reaching benefits.
KEY FINDINGS
Universal Free School Meals are a Financial Lifeline for NY Families
KEY FINDINGS
Survey results underscore the financial relief free school meals provide to students’ families. One parent described the importance of free school meals for caregivers struggling to make ends meet, despite working multiple jobs:
Another parent—a single working mom—described the challenges of managing rising expenses and food access for her family:
Universal Free School Meals Increase Participation and Eliminate Stigma
KEY FINDINGS
First-hand reports from surveyed schools also confirm what studies have found: When school meals are free to all, more students participate.
In these cafeterias, students are eating some of the healthiest meals available, without fear of stigma. Some parents also noted the contrast to their own experiences as children navigating the free or reduced-price system:
According to schools, stigma toward school meal programs will persist until New York establishes a statewide universal program, with students paying the heaviest price. One food service professional commented:
In Schools Where Meals Aren't Free for All, Families Fall Through the Cracks and Incur Meal Debt
KEY FINDINGS
In schools where meals aren’t free for all:
Survey findings make it clear that in schools without free meals for all, families are falling through the cracks. When children’s families aren’t eligible for free meals but can’t afford to pay, they are more likely to incur school meal debt. One food service professional described how meal debt keeps students from accessing the nutrition they need:
Benefits for Schools: Increased Capacity, Efficiency, and Meal Quality
KEY FINDINGS
Survey findings indicate improved program efficiency under universal meals. With more buying power and streamlined administration, schools are shifting their resources to what matters most: nourishing students. One food service professional shared how the alleviated administrative burden afforded by universal meals is translating to higher-quality meals for students:
Benefits for School Food Service Staff: Increased Morale and Job Satisfaction
KEY FINDINGS
Since being able to offer free school meals to all:
Survey findings point to universal meals as a strategy to strengthen the school nutrition workforce. National reports illustrate a growing labor shortage across the sector, yet surveyed food service personnel suggest that universal meals can reverse the trend. One food service professional commented:
Universal Free School Meals Strengthen Economic Resilience in NYS
These findings illustrate how investments to expand free school meals bolster economic resilience for families, schools, and the state. By tapping into local food markets, creating viable jobs, and improving affordability for families, school meal programs–especially those offering universal access–drive economic growth.
Hunger Solutions New York applauds Governor Hochul and the Legislature for championing statewide universal free school meals in their respective budget resolutions. Now is the time for New York to stand for our state’s families and schools by ensuring this critical policy crosses the finish line in the FY 2026 final state budget. As one school professional reflected:
This assessment was developed and led by Francesca DiGiorgio, MPH of Hunger Solutions New York. Survey responses were collected between October and December 2024. Additional technical notes are available below.
Technical Notes
The present assessment was conducted by Hunger Solutions New York during the school year 2024-2025 to understand the impact of the state’s expansion of free school meals. Two distinct groups were identified to provide perspectives on the expansion, given their direct experience with school meals: New York school professionals–defined as school leaders, educators, and food service professionals–and parents and caregivers of students attending New York schools. For both groups, individuals in schools with and without universal free school meals were encouraged to complete the surveys.
Hunger Solutions New York developed two survey instruments for this assessment, one for school professionals and one for parents and caregivers. Survey questions were derived from previous research by other states assessing the implementation of universal free school meals1-5, and included a combination of likert scale questions and open-ended responses. Both survey instruments were programmed using the online platform Survey Monkey and then integrated with the Hunger Solutions New York website.
Hunger Solutions New York utilized a combination of purposive and convenience sampling approaches to collect survey responses for both target groups between October and December 2024. The survey links were disseminated through a series of emails from Hunger Solutions New York to the organizations’ statewide child nutrition network list of approximately 4,000 subscribers and lists of New York school administrators and food service personnel publicly available on the New York State Education Department website. Hunger Solutions New York also promoted the surveys on the organizations’ social media platforms and through in-person tabling at statewide conferences hosted by membership organizations for school professionals. Several of these statewide membership organizations also disseminated the surveys to their networks on behalf of Hunger Solutions New York.
For more information, please contact Francesca DiGiorgio, francesca.digiorgio@hungersolutionsny.org
References:
- Cohen JF, Gosliner W, Hecht C, Hecht K, Schwartz M, Zuercher M, Ritchie L. Research Brief: Impact of Massachusetts’ Healthy School Meals for All. 2023. Accessed October, 2024. https://www.childnourishlab.org/healthy-school-meals-for-all.
- Cohen JF, Polacsek M, Hecht CE, Hecht K, Read M, Olarte DA, Patel AI, Schwartz MB, Turner L, Zuercher M and Gosliner W. Implementation of Universal School Meals during COVID-19 and beyond: Challenges and Benefits for School Meals Programs in Maine. Nutrients. 2022. 14(19), p.4031.
- Martinelli S, Acciai F, Melnick E, Ohri-Vachaspati P. Healthy School Meals for All in Arizona: A Comprehensive Assessment of Benefits, Cost Scenarios, and Community Perspectives. Phoenix, AZ: College of Health Solutions, Arizona State University. 2023. Accessed October, 2024. https://hdl.handle.net/2286/R.2.N.184470
- Taylor J, Garnett, BM, Horton A, Farineau G. Universal Free School Meal Programs in Vermont Show Multi-domain Benefits. Journal of Hunger and Environmental Nutrition. 2020. 15(6) p. 753. doi.org/10.1080/19320248.2020.1727807
- Zuercher MD, Cohen JF, Hecht CE, Hecht K, Ritchie LD, Gosliner W. Providing School Meals to All Students Free of Charge During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond: Challenges and Benefits Reported by School Foodservice Professionals in California. Nutrients. 2022. 14(18), p. 3855.
