In Allegheny County, 146,649 students will be eligible for free morning meals. The budget also includes money to offer free lunch to all students who qualify for reduced-price midday meals through the National School Lunch Program.

Even in early budget proposals, Shapiro promised to fund the breakfast program, launched in October 2022 under then-Gov. Tom Wolf.

“That is why at every step through this budget process, I made clear that universal free breakfast would remain on the table, it wouldn’t be cut and we would deliver for our children,” Shapiro added.

But other school budget items remain tied up in negotiations between lawmakers in the state legislature, including $100 million for the Commonwealth’s poorest schools, also known as Level Up funding.

Shapiro said the program, along with vouchers for private and religious school students, was among the unfinished business he hopes Democrats and Republicans will find common ground on in the coming weeks.