Dear SGI Families and Staff Members,
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has expanded access to the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). While our District did not previously qualify for CEP, we reapplied under this new expanded program and were notified that Springville Schools are now Community Eligible. This will result in access to breakfast and lunch at no cost for all S-GI students beginning on November 2, 2023.
How is this being funded?
The Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) is a non-pricing meal service option for schools and school districts in low-income areas. The USDA lowered the minimum identified student percentage participation threshold from 40 percent to 25 percent, which allowed our schools to qualify. This federal change, combined with the CEP State Subsidy, provides students with meals at no cost, while ensuring schools receive the equivalent of the free reimbursement rates for every meal.
What do families need to do?
Families do not need to take any action in order to take advantage of one breakfast and one lunch at no cost per child. This initiative will begin on November 2, 2023. A second breakfast/lunch, snacks, and ala carte items will continue to be at an additional charge. If families have money in the MySchoolBucks app, that money can be used for second meals, snacks, and ala carte items, and unused funds at year’s end will be automatically rolled over to the next school year.
Why is this important?
We have seen the proof firsthand that healthy meals for all students helps to ensure students are getting the nutrition they need to be successful in school.
After nationwide no-cost meals expired in June 2022, we noticed a significant drop in students buying meals. We saw a drop 33 percent fewer students were getting breakfast and 25 percent fewer students were getting lunch on a day-to-day basis.
It stands to reason that if kids are well-fed with a nutritious breakfast and lunch, they will be better prepared to thrive each day both academically and socially. There is a substantial amount of research that indicates that the opposite is also true. Data from the Food Action and Research Center supports that behavioral, emotional, and mental health issues and poor academic performance are more prevalent among children and adolescents struggling with hunger. Children and adolescents experiencing hunger have lower math scores and poorer grades. Children experiencing hunger are more likely to be hyperactive, absent, and tardy, in addition to having behavioral and attention problems more often than other children. Teens experiencing hunger are more likely to have been suspended from school and have difficulty with peer relationships.
Will this benefit be available in future school years?
The Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) is designated to schools that qualify for four years. At that time we will need to reapply.
If you have any questions about the above information, please feel free to reach out to me at 716-592-3230 or jbialasik@springvillegi.org.