MONTGOMERY-Every student across Alabama deserves the resources they need to thrive in the classroom. Breakfast is an essential school supply that helps improve student learning and behavior and reduces absenteeism. By ensuring access to no-cost school breakfast for every child in Alabama public schools, lawmakers can help students succeed while supporting local farmers and reducing administrative costs for schools.
Alabama Arise Action members will gather for a news conference on the benefits of no-cost school breakfast on Tuesday, Feb. 24, at 11:45 a.m. in Room 200 of the State House in Montgomery. A legislative champion of no-cost school breakfast and a representative from the Alabama School Nutrition Association also will participate in the event. Arise staff members will be available for interviews after the news conference.
Access to no-cost school meals in Alabama has nearly doubled since 2019, and reading and math scores have improved significantly during that time. The Legislature took an important step forward on child nutrition last year by appropriating $7.3 million to expand access to no-cost school breakfasts for more public schools. More than 190,000 children have benefited from this investment in making school meals more readily available.
Arise members will urge lawmakers to allocate $14 million in next year’s education budget to support no-cost school breakfast. This funding would allow Alabama to continue last year’s investment and to ensure no-cost school breakfasts are available for every child in public schools.
WHAT: Alabama Arise Action news conference on no-cost school breakfast
WHO: Scheduled speakers include:
Dr. Shakita Brooks Jones, board president, Alabama Arise Action
Rep. Barbara Drummond, D-Mobile
Cacyce Davis, president, Alabama School Nutrition Association
WHERE: Room 200, Alabama State House, 11 South Union St., Montgomery, AL 36130
WHEN: Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026, at 11:45 a.m.
Media Release/Chris Sanders/ALABAMA ARISE
