PENDER COUNTY, N.C. (WECT) – Pender County Schools has gotten approval to offer the USDA’s Community Eligibility Provision to get students free breakfast and lunch for the school year effective Monday, Aug. 26.
The approval will last for the next four school years.
“The CEP is a federally funded program designed for schools and school systems in low-income areas. Schools that adopt CEP are reimbursed using a formula based on the percentage of students eligible for free meals through their participation in other programs, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF),” a Pender County Schools announcement states.
The schools identified to participate include:
- Cape Fear Elementary
- C.F. Pope Elementary
- Malpass Corner Elementary
- North Topsail Elementary
- Rocky Point Elementary
- South Topsail Elementary
- Surf City Elementary
- Burgaw Middle
- Cape Fear Middle
- West Pender Middle
- Penderlea School
- Heide Trask High
- Pender High
- Pender Early College
- Pender Innovative Learning Academy
“Under CEP, all students attending these schools will be eligible for free breakfast and lunch for a period of four years, unless the eligibility status of a school changes. Parents of students enrolled in CEP schools will receive notification from PCS regarding their child’s enrollment in a qualifying school and their free meal eligibility,” a PCS announcement states.
CEP includes breakfast and lunch meals but not a la carte items.
“Implementing the CEP is a significant step towards ensuring that all our students have access to nutritious meals, which is crucial for their academic performance and overall well-being,” said Lisa Nowlin, Chief Financial Officer of PCS.
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