Berkeley County Schools poised to offer free meals district wide
October 17, 2024 | BERKELEY COUNTY SCHOOLS, School Districts, West Virginia
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During a recent government meeting, officials from the West Virginia Department of Education Child Nutrition Programs presented an overview of the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), which allows school districts to provide free meals to all enrolled students without requiring household applications. The discussion highlighted the opportunity for Berkeley County to expand its participation in the CEP, potentially benefiting all students by offering free breakfast and lunch at no cost.
The CEP was authorized under the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 and has recently been expanded by the USDA, lowering the minimum identified student percentage (ISP) threshold from 40% to 25%. This change makes all Berkeley County schools eligible to participate in the program, which is available through December 2024. Currently, 17 schools in the county are part of the CEP, with the potential for district-wide implementation.
The presentation detailed the financial implications of the CEP, noting that Berkeley County has 4,661 identified students out of an enrollment of 8,697, resulting in an ISP of 53.59%. This allows the district to claim 85.74% of meals served at the free rate. The reimbursement rates for free and paid meals were also discussed, emphasizing the financial benefits of increased participation in the program.
Officials noted that implementing a district-wide CEP could eliminate the need for paper meal applications, reduce unpaid meal charges, and potentially increase meal participation. The estimated cost to the Child Nutrition Program for a district-wide CEP is approximately $700,000 annually, but increased participation could offset these costs significantly.
The meeting underscored the urgency of deciding on the district-wide CEP implementation before the December deadline to lock in current reimbursement rates, which could decrease if the number of identified students falls in future data collections. With only two counties in West Virginia not participating in a district-wide CEP, the discussion emphasized the potential benefits for Berkeley County students and the importance of timely decision-making regarding the program's expansion.
The CEP was authorized under the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 and has recently been expanded by the USDA, lowering the minimum identified student percentage (ISP) threshold from 40% to 25%. This change makes all Berkeley County schools eligible to participate in the program, which is available through December 2024. Currently, 17 schools in the county are part of the CEP, with the potential for district-wide implementation.
The presentation detailed the financial implications of the CEP, noting that Berkeley County has 4,661 identified students out of an enrollment of 8,697, resulting in an ISP of 53.59%. This allows the district to claim 85.74% of meals served at the free rate. The reimbursement rates for free and paid meals were also discussed, emphasizing the financial benefits of increased participation in the program.
Officials noted that implementing a district-wide CEP could eliminate the need for paper meal applications, reduce unpaid meal charges, and potentially increase meal participation. The estimated cost to the Child Nutrition Program for a district-wide CEP is approximately $700,000 annually, but increased participation could offset these costs significantly.
The meeting underscored the urgency of deciding on the district-wide CEP implementation before the December deadline to lock in current reimbursement rates, which could decrease if the number of identified students falls in future data collections. With only two counties in West Virginia not participating in a district-wide CEP, the discussion emphasized the potential benefits for Berkeley County students and the importance of timely decision-making regarding the program's expansion.
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