By Chris Edwards
[email protected]
SPURGER – Spurger ISD announced last week that it will serve breakfast and lunch at no charge to all students for the 2024-25 school year.
According to a news release from the district, SISD is operating its nutrition program under the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), which is under the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program.
According to the USDA, the CEP is a non-pricing meal service option for school districts in low-income areas, which allows those schools to serve breakfast and lunch at no cost to all enrolled students without the need of collecting applications for a free or reduced lunch/breakfast program.
“Instead, schools that adopt CEP are reimbursed using a formula based on the percentage of students categorically eligible for free meals based on their participation in other specific means-tested programs, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF),” information on the program through the USDA’s website stated.
Spurger ISD, in its statement, said that the approach is a way to eliminate or reduce burdens for both families and school administrators, and helps to ensure that students receive nutritious meals.
According to information from the Every Texan initiative (formerly the Center for Public Policy Priorities), schools and school districts where at least 80% of the students qualify for free or reduced-price meals are required to offer free breakfast to all students, and that the majority of schools subject to the law are eligible for CEP.
The district’s nutrition director/supervisor Penny Tinkle said all students will have two lines to choose from, a grab-n-go line and a hot line. Students will also have the opportunity to purchase snacks, if they desire.
The website also added that students who have access to better nutrition tend to perform better academically.
Spurger ISD invited anyone with questions about the program to contact Tinkle, at 409-429-2270, ext. 2270, or via email at [email protected].
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