PENDER COUNTY, NC (WECT) – Pender County Schools have received approval to offer the USDA’s Community Eligibility Provision to provide students with free breakfast and lunch for the school year beginning Monday, August 26.
The approval is valid for the next four school years.
“The CEP is a federally funded program for schools and school systems in low-income areas. Schools that implement the CEP will receive reimbursement based on a formula based on the percentage of students who qualify for free meals through their participation in other programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF),” Pender County Schools said in an announcement.
Participating schools include:
- Cape Fear Elementary School
- CF Pope Elementary School
- Malpass Corner Primary School
- North Topsail Elementary School
- Rocky Point Elementary School
- South Topsail Elementary School
- Surf City Elementary School
- Burgaw-Center
- Cape Fear Middle
- West Pender Middle
- Penderlea School
- Heath Trask High
- Pender High
- Pender Early College
- Pender Innovative Learning Academy
“Under the CEP, all students in these schools are eligible for free breakfast and lunch for a period of four years, unless a school’s eligibility status changes. Parents of students enrolled in CEP schools will receive notification from PCS of their child’s enrollment in a qualifying school and their eligibility for free meals,” a PCS statement said.
CEP includes breakfast and lunch, but no à la carte dishes.
“Implementing the CEP is an important step to ensure that all of our students have access to nutritious meals, which is critical to their academic achievement and overall well-being,” said Lisa Nowlin, PCS Chief Financial Officer.
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