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Manchester City Schools announced Monday, July 14 that all students in the district will receive free breakfast and lunch for the upcoming school year through participation in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) of the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs.

CEP allows schools and districts to provide meals to all students at no cost, without requiring individual household applications. Eligibility is based on the percentage of students directly certified through programs such as SNAP and TANF, a figure known as the Identified Student Percentage (ISP).

Due to the size and demographics of our district, the district’s CEP number is lower than those of surrounding districts. As a result, full federal reimbursement will not cover the total cost of meals for every student. To ensure the program can still be offered, the district will temporarily cover the funding gap using the existing Food Service Fund Balance.

“Our goal is to ensure that every student has access to nutritious meals each day, regardless of their financial situation,” said Dr. Joey Vaughn, Director of Schools. “This initiative supports student health, readiness to learn, and family well-being. We are incredibly appreciative of our school board’s continued support. Our board consistently champions MCS students and families and we deeply appreciate their ongoing commitment.”

Important Notes for Families:

No meal applications are required.

All enrolled students are automatically eligible to receive free breakfast and lunch at school.

The program is being funded through a combination of federal funds and the district’s Food Service Fund Balance.

Vaughn said it is important to note that the long-term sustainability of offering free meals to all students depends on available funding. If the program becomes financially unsustainable, the district may need to return to the traditional paid meal system in future years.

“We thank our families and community for their continued support as we work to provide equitable access to nutritious food for all students,” Vaughn said.

For more information, please contact:

Dana Morris, Director of Student Support/Food Service

Phone: 931-728-2316 | email: MorrisD5@k12mcs.net