East Panhandle Times

Berkeley County Schools have implemented a new initiative to provide free breakfast and lunch to all students. This follows the expansion of the district’s Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) program, approved during the Board of Education’s meeting on November 4th. The initiative removes the need for meal benefits applications or payments for school meals.

The program will be piloted for the remainder of the 2024-25 school year and continue through the full 2025-26 school year, with plans for re-evaluation afterward. The CEP is part of the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs, created under the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010. It allows schools to offer free meals without requiring household income applications.

In 2023, changes by the U.S. Department of Agriculture lowered eligibility thresholds based on participation in programs like SNAP and Medicaid. This allowed more high-need schools to provide free meals to every student.

“At Berkeley County Schools, putting students first is more than just a promise—it’s a guiding principle that shapes every decision from the boardroom to the classroom,” said Dr. Ryan Saxe, Superintendent. “I am especially proud of our Board of Education and district administration for coming together to make free breakfast and lunch available to every student, lifting a significant financial burden for thousands of our families.”

“This decision is like a safety net woven across our entire community, providing essential support to families no matter their financial situation or socioeconomic background,” he added. “By expanding the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) program, we’re ensuring that every child can focus on learning without worrying about meal costs while also bringing peace of mind to families.”

“In Berkeley County, when we say ‘We Are United,’ we mean it: united in purpose, united in lifting up our families, and united in creating an environment where every student has what they need to succeed,” said Saxe.

Before this expansion, Berkeley County Schools had partial participation with 17 schools serving over 8,600 students under CEP. Now extended district-wide, a family with two children could save an estimated $132 monthly on school meals.

The cost for extending CEP coverage across all Berkeley County Schools is approximately $700,000 annually but is expected to streamline administrative tasks and eliminate unpaid meal charges previously totaling about $600,000 yearly.

Further information will be provided regarding refunds on prepayments and any past-due account balances related to November's breakfast and lunch bills.