More GCS Students to Receive Free Meals Through Federal Program

Community Eligibility Provision allows all
students in qualifying schools to eat for free


"A newly expanded federal program will make it easier for children in Guilford County Schools (GCS) to receive free breakfast and lunch, without having to complete applications based on their family income. In Guilford County Schools, 58 schools will qualify for the benefit, affecting 28,000 students county-wide.

The Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) allows students in high-poverty schools to receive free breakfast and lunch, regardless of their individual circumstances. The provision, a facet of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, is being expanded nationwide for the 2014-15 school year after seeing success in the first seven locations.


“With nearly 60 percent of students already qualifying for free or reduced-price meals, we know our students are hungry, and some may not apply for assistance for a variety of reasons,” says Jim Faggione, director of School Nutrition Services. “CEP will allow us to reach more hungry students and serve them more effectively by eliminating the need for an application.”

Eligible schools are those that have at least 40 percent of its students identified in one of several categories of need, such as:
  • Participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
  • Receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
  • Being in foster care
  • Being enrolled in Head Start programs
  • Migrant or homeless students.

If schools have at least 40 percent qualifying students, they will quality for partial reimbursement. If 62.5 percent of students in a school are in one of those categories, the entire school qualifies for reimbursement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

In cases where schools exceed the 62.5 percent threshold and would go beyond 100 percent reimbursement, the overflow percentage can be redistributed to other schools to allow more schools to qualify.

Schools will retain their CEP status for four years, and additional schools can be added during that time. Students at other GCS schools who qualify for free or reduced-price meals based on their household income will continue to apply for and receive those benefits.



Participating GCS schools for 2014-15 are:

1                 Wiley Elementary
2                 Gillespie Park Elementary
3                 Fairview Elementary
4                 Hampton Elementary
5                 Falkener Elementary
6                 Cone Elementary
7                 Parkview Village Elementary
8                 Bessemer Elementary
9                 Kirkman Park Elementary
10              Jackson Middle
11              Rankin Elementary
12              Peck Elementary
13              Pruette SCALE
14              Foust Elementary
15              Hairston Middle
16              Hunter Elementary
17              Montlieu Academy of Technology
18              SCALE Greensboro
19              Washington Elementary
20              Oak Hill Elementary
21              Northwood Elementary
22              Bluford STEM Academy
23              Union Hill Elementary
24              Sedgefield Elementary
25              Dudley High
26              High School Ahead Academy
27              Welborn Middle
28              Allen Jay Elementary
29              Brightwood Elementary
30              Sumner Elementary
31              Murphey Traditional Academy
32              Vandalia Elementary
33              Frazier Elementary
34              Andrews High
35              McNair Elementary
36              Allen Middle
37              Oak View Elementary
38              Smith High
39              Ferndale Middle
40              Jamestown Elementary
41              Aycock Middle
42              Johnson Street Global Studies
43              Newcomers School
44              Alderman Elementary
45              Archer Elementary
46              Peeler Open Elementary
47              McLeansville Elementary
48              Christine Greene Education Center
49              Joyner Elementary
50              Guilford Elementary
51              Irving Park Elementary
52              Jones Elementary
53              Southern Middle
54              Jefferson Elementary
55              Allen Jay Middle
56              Eastern Middle
57              The Academy at Central
58              Middle College at Bennett




About Guilford County Schools

Guilford County Schools, the third largest school district in North Carolina, serves more than 72,300 students at 126 schools. With approximately 10,000 employees, the district’s mission is to graduate responsible citizens who are prepared to succeed in higher education or the career of their choice. Guilford County Schools is a national leader in providing specialized schools and instructional programs designed to meet the educational needs of a culturally diverse citizenship. For more information, visit the district’s website at www.gcsnc.com."
A Press Release

No comments: