For years, advocates have pieced together state and federal funding for free school meals with the goal of reaching every student. Now, as they approach the finish line, there may be one last hurdle to overcome. The federal government might cut its aid — crucial funding needed to make the program work. A list of proposed cuts currently before the House Ways and Means Committee includes $12 billion in school meal funding nationwide, said Albany city schools Superintendent Joseph Hochreiter.
Most schools were able to offer free meals during the first two school years of the coronavirus pandemic, thanks to a flush of federal pandemic relief funding. When that ended, the state increased its funding for free school meals in 2023. By then, 86 percent of students were enrolled in schools that offered free meals, according to the state Education Department.
