Parents of students at certain schools in New York should be aware of a massive change on the horizon. There are 2,418,513 public and charter school students in grades kindergarten through 12th grade in New York State, according to data from 2023-2024. There are 731 Districts, 4,399 Public Schools, and 372 Charter Schools around the state. Here's a glance at some demographic facts about New York State students:
MALE - 1,238,516 (51%)
FEMALE - 1,178,974 (49%)
NON-BINARY - 1,023 (Less Than 1%)
ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS - 259,829 (11%)
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES - 459,771 (19%)
ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED - 1,433,313 (59%)
MIGRANT - 2,107 (Less Than 1%)
HOMELESS - 138,393 (6%)
FOSTER CARE - 8,268 (Less Than 1%)
The coming change will be a huge benefit for many of the students in the group and their parents.
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With 59 percent of New York public and charter school students being economically disadvantaged, this change is a step in the right direction. What's sad is that I have seen a certain group of adults in New York who say kids don't deserve this. It never ceases to amaze me how some people are consumed by hatred.
Fortunately, there are compassionate leaders in NY who realize that not only is it cruel to allow children to go hungry, but it also affects their ability to learn. Governor Kathy Hochul and the state legislature approved the 2025-2026 Fiscal Year Budget, which includes $340 million for free lunches.
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While many students previously received free lunch, the new plan will provide free breakfast and lunch at school, regardless of a family's income. I often see a lot of "what about me-ism" comments when it comes to any type of assistance provided here in NY. This change should satisfy those who argue that middle-class New Yorkers are often overlooked. I fully expect everyone to agree that this is a good thing for New York students and parents 🙄. If you couldn't tell, I was being sarcastic. I'm sure certain people will find some reason to complain about feeding kids.
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