Community Eligibility Program

Free Breakfast and Lunch at School

student in cafeteria eating a piece of bread

 

Because students rely on our nutrition services program as a source for a healthy meal, our schools serve a free breakfast to all students in all schools, and our district is offering no-cost meals to students across the district for the 2023-2024 school year.

The no-cost lunch at some schools is made possible by the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), a federal reimbursement program that allows school districts to offer lunch at no cost to students at schools that meet criteria. Metro Schools this school year is using federal ESSER funds to ensure all students have access to no-cost meals.

If your child does not attend a CEP school, but rather a school that qualifies for Free & Reduced Lunch, it is important eligible families apply for Free and Reduced Meals at the start of the school year, either online or through paperwork submitted to school, because the program also helps connect families to things such as:

  • discounts for fees associated with college application processes
  • scholarships and fee discounts for SAT, ACT and AP tests
  • benefits such as SNAP and Families First