Alabama Advocacy Group Pushes for No-Cost School Breakfasts

Alabama Arise Action calls on state lawmakers to allocate $14 million for universal free meals.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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Members of the Alabama Arise Action advocacy group gathered at the State House in Montgomery on Tuesday to urge state lawmakers to fund no-cost school breakfasts for every child in Alabama public schools. The organization is requesting $14 million in next year's education budget to cover the cost, nearly $7 million more than the funding from last year that expanded no-cost school breakfasts to more schools.

Why it matters

Access to no-cost school meals in Alabama has nearly doubled since 2019, and the group says reading and math scores have improved significantly during that time. Providing universal free breakfasts could also support local farmers and reduce administrative costs for schools.

The details

Alabama Arise Action, a statewide nonprofit organization, organized the midday news conference at the State House as part of its annual Legislative Day. The group is calling on the Alabama Legislature to designate $14 million in next year's education budget to cover no-cost school breakfasts for all public school students in the state.

  • The news conference took place on Tuesday, February 24, 2026.
  • Funding for no-cost school breakfasts in Alabama has increased since 2019.

The players

Alabama Arise Action

A statewide nonprofit organization that advocates for policies to improve the lives of low-income Alabamians.

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What’s next

The Alabama Legislature will consider the funding request for no-cost school breakfasts as part of the upcoming state budget process.

The takeaway

Providing universal free school breakfasts could improve academic outcomes for students, support local agriculture, and reduce administrative costs for schools in Alabama.