Beginning this school year, JPS will be providing breakfast and lunch to every child enrolled in the district at no cost to the parents. According to the Food Research and Action Center, the new Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) allows high poverty schools to offer both breakfast and lunch at no charge to all students while eliminating the traditional school meal application process. CEP increases participation in the school nutrition programs by offering breakfast and lunch for free to all; reduces administrative work for school districts by eliminating the need to qualify students for free and reduced-price meals and tracks which children are participating; and improves the overall financial viability of the school nutrition programs in high poverty schools.

According to the JPS Food Service Department, last year eighty percent of all students qualified for free or reduced meals, while the remaining twenty percent paid for meals. In the past, parents would have to make a trip to the JPS Enochs Complex and fill out an application for free or reduced meals. This process is no longer necessary due to the implementation of the new program.

The only qualification or paperwork that has to be completed for your child to receive breakfast and lunch, is simply by enrolling your child in JPS. If you were paying for meals you will no longer have to send lunch money to the school.

Parents will be notified about this program through an automated recording sent to their phones from JPS’s Superintendent, Dr. Gray.

For more information please contact the JPS Food Service Department at 601-960-8911.