Richmond County School System (RCSS) will provide free breakfast and lunch to all students during the 2025-2026 school year through the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), a federal initiative that eliminates the need for meal applications.
The program, aimed at increasing access to nutritious meals, is available to schools where a significant portion of students qualify for benefits through programs such as SNAP and Medicaid.
This year, more than 28,000 students in the district are expected to benefit from the program, according to a press release from RCSS.
Cathy Johnson, director of Nutrition Services, highlighted the broader impact of the initiative.
“Richmond County Nutrition Services is proud to offer programs that go beyond the lunch line, including summer and afterschool meal programs, nutrition education, and farm-to-table initiatives that bring fresh, local produce into our cafeterias,” she said. “Providing every student with free breakfast and lunch removes barriers and ensures all students have access to the nutrition they need to succeed in the classroom.”
The CEP will save families hundreds of dollars annually by covering the full cost of daily meals for students.
While breakfast and lunch are free, à la carte entrées and snacks will still be available for purchase.
Families can add funds to student meal accounts through MySchoolBucks at rcboe.info/schoolbucks.
Menus for daily meals are accessible online at rcboe.org/Menus.
