With 1 in every 6 children facing hunger in the U.S., California is the first state to promise every public school student — all 6 million of them — free school meals. The universal school meals ...

About 90% of students in the state already have access to universal free meals. The breakdown isn't district wide, but often school by school. Schools where a majority of students receive free lunch ...

School can be a slog for some students. Between their studies and extracurricular activities, it’s where many spend the majority of their days.

More schools in New York State enrolled last year in a federal program that provides free meals to students than any other state in the country, according to a recent report by a Washington ...

Overall, Weisman said her organization saw a 30% increase in people seeking food assistance in 2024 compared to the previous ...