Could All DPS Students Get Free Meals?

In a move that could signal a significant step towards educational equity, Durham Public Schools is exploring the feasibility of extending free meal programs across the entire district through the federal Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) program.

This initiative, aimed at providing universal meals to students, reflects a growing recognition of the critical role nutrition plays in student health, focus, and academic performance. Board of Education members are expected to discuss the idea during Thursday’s meeting.

A Leap Towards Universal Meals

Recent reports reveal that DPS is considering the adoption of the CEP program to offer all students free breakfast and lunch. This ambitious plan, if realized, would position Durham as the largest school district in North Carolina to implement universal free meals. The initiative comes in response to the stark reality that thousands of DPS students currently qualify for free lunch every day, highlighting the pressing need to address food insecurity among students .

Understanding Title I and the CEP

Title I is part of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), which provides financial assistance to schools with high numbers or high percentages of children from low-income families. The goal is to ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards. Title I funding is crucial for providing supplemental educational services, including support for meals in schools that serve disadvantaged communities.

The CEP, on the other hand, is a non-pricing meal service option for schools and school districts in low-income areas. It allows the nation’s highest poverty schools and districts to serve breakfast and lunch at no cost to all enrolled students without collecting household applications. Instead, schools that adopt the CEP are reimbursed using formulas based on the percentage of students categorically eligible for free meals based on their participation in other specific means-tested programs, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) .

Impact and Next Steps

The transition to a district-wide free meal program under the CEP is expected to have profound effects on student well-being in Durham. Research has consistently shown that access to free, nutritious meals in schools increases student participation in breakfast and lunch programs, boosts academic achievement, and may even reduce suspension rates by addressing behavioral issues linked to hunger .

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