Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) confirmed to ALXnow that families of any student at several schools will be provided breakfast and lunch for free.
Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) is a ‘non-pricing meal service option’ for schools in low-income areas, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture website. The website said that all students enrolled at the school can receive breakfast and lunch at no cost without the need to apply. The schools are reimbursed based on the percentage of students eligible for free meals based on other programs, like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).
“Families at CEP-eligible schools are encouraged to complete the ACPS Family Income Form at the start of the school, but should not complete the Free and Reduced Meal Application,” Chief Operations Officer Alicia Hart said.
According to Hart:
Families of students attending Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) schools are provided breakfast and lunch at no cost. The following schools are designated as CEP sites for the upcoming 2024-25 school year:
- Alexandria City High School King Street Campus
- Alexandria City High School Minnie Howard Campus
- Cora Kelly School for Math, Science, & Technology
- Jefferson Houston PreK-8 IB School
- Ferdinand T. Day Elementary
- John Adams Elementary
- Early Childhood Center
- Francis C. Hammond Middle School
- Patrick Henry K-8 School
- James K. Polk Elementary
- William Ramsay Elementary
- Samuel Tucker Elementary
