PHILADELPHIA, PA — Pennsylvania schools served 92.3 million breakfasts during the past school year, up 13% from 2022-23, as state officials on Sunday recognized 10 schools that posted the largest participation gains in a statewide effort to expand student access to morning meals.
The schools were honored at Lincoln Financial Field as the top performers in the third annual Governor’s School Breakfast Challenge, which encourages schools to increase breakfast participation while incorporating more nutritious and locally sourced foods into their meal programs.
Sixty-eight schools completed this year’s challenge. The 10 schools recognized Sunday were Colonial Elementary School and Conshohocken Elementary School in Montgomery County; Fairview Elementary School in Luzerne County; East Stroudsburg High School South in Monroe County; Easton Area Middle School in Northampton County; Forest City Regional Elementary School in Susquehanna County; Penn Kidder Campus in Carbon County; Penn Hills Charter School of Entrepreneurship in Allegheny County; Wallenpaupack South Elementary School in Wayne County; and Summitview Elementary School in Franklin County.
Education Secretary Dr. Carrie Rowe and Agriculture Deputy Secretary for Farm, Food, and Market Access Heidi Secord participated in the event alongside the American Dairy Association North East, Philadelphia Eagles alumni and cheerleaders, and Eagles mascot SWOOP.
Pennsylvania has provided universal free school breakfast for three years, and the 2026-27 state budget continues funding the program for the state’s 1.7 million students regardless of family income.
Breakfast participation has risen alongside that funding. Schools served more than 10 million additional breakfasts during the past school year compared with 2022-23, with nearly 70 million of the 92.3 million meals going to students from low-income families or those considered at risk of hunger.
“Investing in the wellness of students is more than just dollars and cents, it’s the commitment of school administrators and employees to finding creative ways to provide meals that are nutritious, locally sourced, and taste good,” Rowe noted.
The breakfast challenge also places an emphasis on changes schools can sustain beyond the competition, including low-sugar choices and locally sourced foods.
All 68 schools that completed the challenge will receive a banner, certificate and breakfast recipe book featuring recipes submitted by participating schools.
John Chrisman, chief executive officer of the American Dairy Association North East, pointed to the role dairy products can play in school breakfasts.
“For students, a nutritious breakfast with dairy foods like milk, yogurt and cheese provides important nutrients, including high-quality protein and calcium, to help fuel both mind and body for a successful day of learning,” Chrisman added.
The state’s broader school-food efforts include the Summer Food Service Program and Farm to School Grants, which connect local farmers with schools to supply fresh, seasonal products for cafeterias while supporting school gardens and agricultural education.
The 2026-27 budget provides $13.8 million for the Pennsylvania Farm Bill for an eighth year. It also continues universal free breakfast as part of a broader $11.85 billion state investment in Pennsylvania schools this year.
Other education spending in the budget includes $1.9 billion distributed through the adequacy and tax equity formula, $8.32 billion in Basic Education Funding and $1.58 billion for special education.
The budget also maintains $125 million for school infrastructure improvements, including $25 million for Solar for Schools, and $100 million for school mental health and safety. It provides $3 million for free menstrual hygiene products for students and establishes 30 minutes of daily recess for students in kindergarten through fifth grade.
Support the local news that supports Chester County. MyChesCo delivers reliable, fact-based reporting and essential community resources—free for everyone. If you value that, click here to become a patron today.