These Capital Region schools are offering free meals for all

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Schools around the Capital Region are gearing up for the 2024-2025 school year. With school starting in September, some local schools have announced they are will be offering free breakfast and lunch to all students.

These free meals are part of New York State's Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) for the School Breakfast and Lunch Program. This program is available for schools in areas where families need financial assistance.

While there has been legislation introduced pushing for universal school meals for students in all New York State districts, as well as all districts in the U.S., the bill has been stuck in committee in the NYS Senate. Advocates said this legislation will also help reduce the stigma for low-income students.

With CEP, families do not need to apply; every student automatically gets free breakfast and lunch each day. Students get a full meal, but must pay for any additional items such as another milk or other snacks.

If a school is not participating in CEP, students may still get free or reduced meals depending on their household income level. Families would then have to fill out an application for the free or reduced lunch program.

Districts in the CEP program for the 2024-25 school year

• City School District of Albany
• Greater Amsterdam School District
• Argyle Central School District
• Averill Park Central School District
• Ballston Spa Central School District
• Berlin Central School District
• Berne-Knox-Westerlo Central School District
• Brunswick-Brittonkill Central School District
• Cairo-Durham Central School District
• Cambridge Central School District
• Canajoharie Central School District
• Catskill Central School District
• Chatham Central School District
• Cobleskill-Richmondville Central School District
• Cohoes City School District
• Corinth Central School District
• Duanesburg Central School District
• East Greenbush Central School District
• Fonda-Fultonville Central School District
• Fort Ann Central School District
• Fort Edward Union Free School District
• Fort Plain Central School District
• Galway Central School District
• Germantown Central School District
• Gilboa-Conesville Central School
• Glens Falls City School District
• Gloversville Enlarged School District
• Granville Central School District
• Green Island Union Free School District
• Greenville Central School District
• Greenwich Central School District
• Hadley-Luzerne Central School District
• Hartford Central School District
• Hoosic Valley Central School District
• Hoosick Falls Central School District
• Hudson City School District
• Hunter-Tannersville Central School District
• Ichabod Crane Central School District
• Jefferson Central School District
• Johnsburg Central School District
• Greater Johnstown School District
• Lake George Central School District
• Lansingburgh Central School District
• Mayfield Central School District
• Mechanicville City School District
• Menands Union Free School District
• Middleburgh Central School District
• Mohonasen Central School District
• New Lebanon Central School District
• North Colonie Central School District
• North Warren Central School District
• Northville Central School District
• Oppenheim-Ephratah-St. Johnsville Central Schools
• Queensbury Union Free School District
• Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk Central School District
• Rensselaer City School District
• Salem Central School District
• Saratoga Springs City School District
• Schalmont Central School District
• Schenectady City School District
• Schodack Central School District
• Schoharie Central School District
• Schuylerville Central School District
• Scotia-Glenville Central School District
• Sharon Springs Central School District
• South Colonie Central School District
• South Glens Falls Central School District
• Stillwater Central School District
• Taconic Hills Central School District
• Troy City School District
• Warrensburg Central School District
• Waterford-Halfmoon Union Free School District
• Watervliet City School District
• Whitehall Central School District

Schools NOT in the CEP program

As of August 29, 2024

• Bethlehem Central School District
• Bolton Central School District
• Broadalbin-Perth Central School District
• Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake Central School District
• Coxsackie-Athens Central School District
• Guilderland Central School District
• Voorheesville Central School District
• Shenendehowa Central School District
• Niskayuna Central School District