Building on the Foundation of Universal Free School Lunch

How New York City hopes to end the stigma associated with 'lunch shaming' by feeding every student for free

Advocates for the universal free lunch program say data show that more children eat lunch when it's free for everyone. According to a Community Food Advocates report from 2016, a significant uptake in participation took place at schools that provided universal free lunch. For example, middle school children participation rates went from 40 percent to 60 percent.

Fighting the stigma of free lunch: Why universal free school lunch is good for students, schools, and families

The majority of NYC’s public school students are poor; an astonishing 75 percent (780,000 children) were already eligible for free or reduced-price lunch. School lunch is the only nutritious meal many of them eat all day. But eating free lunch had stigma, and so despite their  need, one in three eligible students skipped lunch to avoid the shame.

Universal free school lunch is a simple but radical idea. It removes stigma, improves children’s health and educations, and helps low-income families make ends meet. By creating one system, it also simplifies administrative processes, allowing schools, principals, and teachers to focus on teaching.

From Free Lunch to Public Banks, These Cities Are Giving Us Hope

On Thursday, September 7, the city rolled out a new program that will provide free lunch to all 1.1 million public-school students in the five boroughs. Although 75 percent of students in the city were already eligible for free lunch, this program will offer approximately 200,000 additional young people access to the program, and will save their families some $300 a year. What’s more, since the program truly universal, those who rely on the program will no longer have to worry about being stigmatized for doing so.

School Lunch Without Shame

New York City’s public school system set an important national example this week when it made free lunch available to all of its 1.1 million students regardless of income level. The program ensures that more children will get proper nutrition during the school day. It will also relieve the sense of stigma and shame that often leads children to refuse subsidized meals — and go hungry — rather than let classmates find out that their families are poor.

The largest school district in the US just started offering free lunch for all 1.1 million students

The New York City Department of Education announced Wednesday that all public school students, regardless of family income, will receive free lunch. At New York City Public Schools, the largest district in the US with about 1.1 million students, nearly 800,000 students have been estimated to qualify for free lunch.

New York City Offers Free Lunch for All Public School Students

Lunch at New York City public schools will be available free of charge to all 1.1 million students beginning this school year, Carmen Fariña, the schools chancellor, said on Wednesday in the basement cafeteria of a Hell’s Kitchen elementary school. The new school year begins on Thursday.

Free lunch announced for all students at all NYC public schools

Schools Chancellor Carmen Farina said the "Free School Lunch for All" program will provide an additional 200,000 students with free lunch. Last year, 75 percent of students were eligible for free lunch.

NYC Budget Deal Has Millions for Youth Jobs, Free School Lunches

Bloomberg News by Henry Goldman

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​New spending on schools includes $107 million in capital and operating funds to provide all schools with gyms or other physical education facilities and more than $10 million to offer more students free lunches.

Advocates Hope That Food Issues Will Find a Place on City’s Campaign Table

City Limits by Kate Pastor 

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According to Liz Accles of Community Food Advocates, the expansion means 90 percent of schools (adding 890 schools to the 565 already covered) and 84 percent of students (adding 475,000 kids to the 353,000 students already covered) will receive universal free lunch.

De Blasio, City Council reach agreement on $85B budget

New York Post by Yoav Gonen
 

​An additional $10.4 million was added to the budget to expand the free-lunch program in schools — which had been a priority for council members and Public ­Advocate Letitia James.