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ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) – The New York State Healthy School Lunch Coalition for Every Child is calling on Governor Kathy Hochul to fully fund school lunches for students in every school district in the state. I am.
Last year, the state allocated $134 million to expand access to school meals to hundreds of thousands of students. The governor has proposed an $11 million increase, but his supporters argue that’s not enough to make all students eligible.
“More than 320,000 students in 650 schools were left behind,” Andrés Vives, executive director of Hunger Solutions New York, said at a rally at the state Capitol. “They still don’t have access to free universal school meals and that’s why we’re here today.”
Groups such as the New York Farm Bureau, the New York State United Teachers Association, and the New York State PTA have advocated for fully funding breakfast and lunch in schools, saying it will help eliminate the stigma of poverty and improve student health and achievement. We are supporting. .
“There’s a misconception that many of the schools left behind from last year’s investments are wealthy,” said Liz Ackles, executive director of Community Food Advocates. “In fact, schools that are not included here may have up to 24 percent of their student population considered low-income.”
It’s an issue that has bipartisan support.
“There is nothing more important than making sure our kids are fed,” Republican Sen. Dean Murray explained. “When they go to school, their stomachs don’t growl and they can concentrate on their school work. It’s no wonder they’re hungry that day.”
The final state budget is due April 1.
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