How a Partnership between Teach NYS, Agudath Israel, Senator Sutton, and Governor Hochul Is Helping New York’s Nonpublic School Families
Eddie Esses
New York’s historic expansion of universal school meals is providing free breakfast and lunch to more than 42,000 additional nonpublic school students while saving community families tens of millions of dollars.
Sometimes the most meaningful victories are measured not by headlines, but by the thousands of families whose daily lives become just a little easier. For three years, Teach NYS, founded by the SCF and Sam Sutton, advocated for a universal school meals program for nonpublic school students. Teach NYS continuously engaged with numerous elected officials, effectively rallying key support for the proposal.
Agudath Israel also played an instrumental role in the campaign. Agudah brought scores and scores of Yeshivot to lobby elected officials on behalf of tens of thousands of students and write letters directly to the governor in support of expanded universal free meals for nonpublic school students. A year ago, the vision of Teach NYS, Agudath Israel, and Senator Sutton became a reality.
Now, one year after Governor Hochul signed New York’s universal school meals program into law, the impact is undeniable. More than 42,000 additional nonpublic school students are receiving free breakfast and lunch each school day. The program is helping families save money, eliminating the stigma of “lunch shaming,” and ensuring that every child, regardless of where they attend school, has access to nutritious meals.
For New York’s Jewish community and the broader nonpublic school community, this represents one of the most significant education victories in recent memory.
A Promise Finally Fulfilled
For years, Teach NYS, Senator Sutton, and other advocates pushed for New York to recognize a simple principle. Every child deserves access to healthy meals at school, regardless of family income or whether the child attends a public, charter, or nonpublic school.
Governor Hochul helped make that vision a reality by securing $340 million in the FY2026 State Budget to establish truly universal free school meals across New York. Today, every participating public, charter, and nonpublic school can offer free breakfast and lunch to every student, with New York State covering the remaining cost for students who were not previously eligible for free meals.
The result is exactly what supporters hoped for. More students are participating, children have access to healthier meals, and families are receiving meaningful financial relief.
A Dramatic Increase in Nonpublic
School Participation
The numbers tell the story. In March 2025, 163,080 students in New York State nonpublic schools participated in the program. By March 2026, that number had risen to 205,232, an increase of 42,152 students.
Participation among students in New York State yeshivas and day schools also rose sharply. The number increased from 145,008 students in March 2025 to 178,012 in March 2026, an increase of 33,004 students.
More than 42,000 additional nonpublic school students are now benefiting from the program statewide, demonstrating both the demand for and the success of universal school meals. The increase includes approximately 33,000 children attending yeshivas and Jewish day schools in New York State. Within that figure are approximately 4,000 children attending Sephardic yeshiva schools.
More Than Meals, Real Financial Relief
Universal school meals are also delivering substantial savings to working families. Analysis has estimated that nonpublic school parents are collectively saving approximately $60 million annually through the program.
A family with one child can save an estimated $1,440 each year. A family with two children can save approximately $2,880, while a family with three children can save approximately $4,320 annually.
For families already making significant sacrifices to provide a Jewish or other faith-based education for their children, these savings are meaningful. Every dollar families no longer spend on school meals is a dollar that can instead go toward tuition, housing, childcare, or other household expenses.
Senator Sam Sutton’s Advocacy
with the Governor
Long before taking office, Senator Sam Sutton championed universal school meals as president of the Sephardic Community Federation, SCF, and founder of Teach NYS. He recognized that thousands of middle-income families were falling through the cracks. Many earned too much to qualify for traditional meal assistance but still struggled with the rising cost of living and private school tuition.
SCF also fought to end the harmful practice of lunch shaming, a problem that affected children across every community. Although New York City had been legally authorized since 2017 to provide universal school meals, including kosher and halal options, implementation stalled for years despite persistent advocacy.
After being elected to the State Senate, Senator Sutton continued making funding for nonpublic schools a top priority. He worked closely with Governor Hochul and legislative leaders, including Assemblyman Simcha Eichenstein, to continue bringing additional funds to our Yeshivot.
Senator Sutton has developed a close and productive partnership with Governor Hochul that has consistently translated into meaningful investments for New York’s Jewish communities. Whether securing increased security funding, expanding educational support, or advancing initiatives that ease the financial burden on families, that working relationship has delivered tangible results.
Another Major Win for Nonpublic
School Families
Governor Hochul and Senator Sutton’s partnership and commitment to New York’s nonpublic school community extend beyond universal meals. Just this past month, the governor committed New York to opting into the new Federal School Choice Tax Credit. The program will allow donors to nonprofit scholarship organizations to receive a $1,700 federal tax credit for eligible contributions.
For New York’s Jewish community, this represents another landmark achievement. Once implemented, the program is expected to generate tens of millions of dollars in scholarship funding that will directly help families offset the cost of nonpublic school tuition. Combined with universal school meals, these initiatives represent one of the most significant reductions in the cost of nonpublic education that New York families have seen in decades.
Building a Stronger Future
Universal school meals demonstrate what is possible when government works collaboratively with community leaders to address real challenges facing working families. Thousands more children are receiving nutritious meals, parents are saving millions of dollars, and schools are seeing greater participation without the burden of determining which students qualify.
Most importantly, every child is treated equally. These are the kinds of practical, bipartisan accomplishments that improve everyday life. They show what can happen when committed advocates, effective legislators, and a governor willing to listen work together to deliver meaningful results for New Yorkers.
Senator Sutton said, “A free breakfast and lunch for every schoolchild in New York State is now a reality and is showing impressive results. NYC and NYS nonpublic school children are saying goodbye to lunch shaming and hello to a nutritious breakfast and lunch, regardless of income.”
