BOE Approves CEP Program Expansion

Beginning Wednesday, November 6, 2024, all Berkeley County Schools students will have access to free breakfast and lunch following a recent vote to expand the district's Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) program.

Approved during the Board of Education's November 4th meeting, this initiative eliminates the need for students to complete meal benefits applications or pay for school meals. The program will serve as a pilot for the remainder of the 2024-25 school year and the full 2025-26 school year, with plans for re-evaluation afterward.

The CEP is a meal service option under the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs, created through the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010. It allows schools to offer free meals to all enrolled students without requiring household income applications.

In 2023, the U.S. Department of Agriculture broadened CEP access by lowering the threshold for student eligibility based on participation in programs like SNAP, Medicaid, Head Start, or for students identified as homeless, foster, or migrant youth. This change made it possible for more high-need schools to provide free meals to every student, fostering greater food security and convenience for families.

"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 17 schools participating in the CEP, serving over 8,600 students, and was one of only two counties in West Virginia with partial participation. Now, with a district-wide CEP program, a family with two children will save an estimated $132 a month by not having to pay for school meals.

The cost of extending CEP coverage across all Berkeley County Schools, regardless of individual student eligibility, is approximately $700,000 annually. This investment is expected to bring additional benefits including streamlining administrative tasks and eliminating unpaid meal charges that previously totaled about $600,000 a year.

More information will be forthcoming regarding refunds on prepayments, November breakfast and lunch bills, and any past-due account balances.

Email: info@berkeleycountyschools.org
Phone: 304-267-3500