During the 2024-2025 school year, every student in the Richmond County School System (RCSS) will receive breakfast and lunch at no charge.
This is a part of the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) program, which is making sure students have access to nutritious meals. Families do not have to opt into the program to participate.
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“When a child’s nutritious needs are met, the child is more attentive in class, has better attendance, and has fewer disciplinary problems,” said Cathy Johnson, Richmond County nutrition services director. “Families with tight food budgets can rest assured that their child is getting two nutritious meals at school, reducing financial strain at home.”
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) expanded the access to CEP to reduce the minimum identified student percentage, which is the percentage of students that automatically qualify for free meals, participation threshold from 40% to 25%. This means that RCSS School Nutrition Services can expand CEP by three schools, increasing the total number of participating schools and programs to 54. RCSS plans to focus on including locally grown foods into the menu and educating students on making informed food choices.
“CEP promotes equity by eliminating the out-of-pocket costs for families and by reducing the stigma of school meal programs, allowing students to focus on what’s most important—their education,” said Johnson.
All RCSS schools provide breakfast and lunch at no cost under CEP.
To view the school breakfast and lunch menu, please visit www.rcboe.org/Menus.
