Governor Shapiro Hands Out Breakfast to Upper Dublin Students | Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

Fort Washington, PA - Today, Governor Josh Shapiro visited Fort Washington Elementary School, part of the Upper Dublin School District, to distribute free breakfast to local students and reaffirm the Shapiro Administration's commitment to investing in students' success.

Since taking office, the Governor has fought for and delivered universal free breakfast for every one of Pennsylvania's 1.7 million students, securing funding in each budget since 2023 - with continued funding in the Governor's 2026-27 proposed budget.

"Our kids can't learn on an empty stomach. That's why I fought for and delivered universal free breakfast in Pennsylvania schools when I took office three years ago," said Governor Shapiro. "Universal free breakfast helps our students succeed by ensuring they start the day with a full stomach, ready to learn. My Administration is proud to invest in our students' success and we're going to keep delivering for students all across the Commonwealth."

Last year, as a result of the Governor's investments, Pennsylvania schools served nearly 93 million breakfasts - a 13.8 percent increase over two years - with more than 70 million of those breakfasts served to students who were at-risk for hunger or who came from low-income families. The Upper Dublin School District - a 2025 Governor's School Breakfast Program Awardee - served over 19,000 free breakfasts in the 2024-25 school year, with more than 3,000 free breakfasts served at Fort Washington.

"In Upper Dublin School District, we take great pride in giving students the resources they need to learn and thrive throughout the school day. Providing access to a healthy breakfast is one important way we can support student success," said Dr. Laurie Smith, Superintendent of Upper Dublin School District. "We appreciate our dedicated Food Services team and Governor Shapiro's efforts to highlight the role nutrition plays in student learning, health, and well-being."

Governor Shapiro also secured an 18.4 percent increase in funding for Upper Dublin, bringing more than $6.71 million to the district last year. In the Governor's 2026-27 proposed budget, Upper Dublin would receive an additional $97,004 in state funding.

"No child should be asked to learn on an empty stomach. I was proud to welcome Governor Shapiro to Montgomery County this morning and join him at Fort Washington Elementary, in the heart of the 12th District, where kids showed up ready to learn," said Senator Maria Collett, PA's 12th Senate District. "A good breakfast is part of what makes that possible. I'm proud to keep fighting for universal free school breakfast for every student in Pennsylvania."

"You can't expect a kid with an empty belly to focus on schoolwork - we've already seen the positive impact Governor Shapiro's free breakfast program has had on students and classrooms, and we need to keep delivering this win for kids in this year's state budget," said Representative Ben Sanchez, PA's 153rd House District. "This is all part of how we're reinventing school funding in PA to help every kid in every district and make sure all students have the tools they need to succeed."

Shapiro Administration's Historic Investments in Education

The Shapiro Administration has consistently delivered for Pennsylvania's students at all levels, ensuring they have the opportunity to chart their own course and succeed.

• Across the Governor's first three budgets, he delivered nearly $3 billion in new funding to schools and under his leadership, for the first time in its history, the Commonwealth is spending nearly $12 billion on K-12 public education.
• Since January 2023, the Shapiro Administration has secured nearly $375 million to support student mental health and security needs, allowing 778 schools to expand mental health services.
• Governor Shapiro increased funding for career and technical education (CTE) and apprenticeships by nearly $65 million - a nearly 50% increase - helping more students gain knowledge and skills needed to succeed in higher education and their future careers.
• Since taking office, the Shapiro Administration has secured $400 million for 208 school facilities and solar projects to address structural and environmental concerns in school buildings across Pennsylvania - and his 2026-27 proposed budget continues this support with an additional $125 million investment.
• In 2025, Governor Shapiro secured a $10 million increase for the Student Teacher Stipend Program, helping address educator shortages and making teaching a more accessible and rewarding career path - raising the annual amount available for the program to $30 million.
• The Governor's 2026-27 proposed budget continues this progress by investing an additional $18 million into vo-tech, CTE, and apprenticeship programs, and directs an additional $565 million through the bipartisan adequacy formula.

Governor Shapiro has made historic funding for public education and access to higher education a priority - and as Pennsylvania's future continues to grow, graduate, and succeed, his Administration will continue delivering real results for them.