JONESBORO — Clayton County Public Schools will continue to implement the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) Program for the 2023-2024 School Year.
Through CEP, every school in the district will offer free breakfast and lunches. This eliminates the procedure of distributing and processing free and reduced meal applications, the school system stated.
CCPS recertified its CEP participation in 2021 and CEP is set to conclude on June 30, 2025 if not renewed by the Clayton County Board of Education.
The school system said the program also has a number of benefits for students, families and stakeholders.
— Equity in the cost of meals regardless of income.
— Reduces the financial stress for families paying for meals.
— Eliminates unpaid meal charges.
— Administrative burden and cost of printing and processing meal applications.
“We began our participation in the CEP program with hopes that it would benefit students, our families, and our communities,” CCPS Executive Director of Nutrition Services Audrey Hamilton said. “I can say, based on our experience, that this program has exceeded our expectations and we anticipate that it will continue to positively impact student health and academic achievement.”
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