During the COVID-19 pandemic, many people realized for the first time just how important school lunch is for many children in need. That increased awareness has carried over since the height of the pandemic. In early August, a $16 million investment into the Connecticut school meals program gave thousands of students free breakfast and lunch through the upcoming school year. Funded with American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars, this money does two things, according to an announcement:
All students in non-Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) schools participating in the federal School Breakfast Program (SBP) will be able to receive breakfast meals at no cost, including day students within residential childcare institutions. Approximately 114 districts participating in the SBP are eligible to receive this funding serving an estimated 177,243 eligible students.
Students who are eligible for reduced-price meals in non-CEP schools participating in the federal National School Lunch Program (NSLP) will be able to receive lunch at no cost, including day students within residential childcare institutions. Approximately 128 districts participating in the NSLP are eligible to receive this funding, serving an estimated 13,197 eligible students.
However, many Stafford students who would be eligible for these programs aren't taking advantage of it, according to the Monday, September 11, 2023, Board of Education (BOE) meeting. Part of this stems from confusion, as elementary school students automatically get free meals. West Stafford and Stafford Elementary, are CEP schools, where all students receive free breakfast and lunch due to their level of need. However, students at the middle and high schools must fill out a form to qualify. Understandably, families with students of varying ages may not realize the policies differ across schools.
More reasons to fill out the free/reduced lunch forms
It's also worth pointing out that filling out the free/reduced lunch form has benefits for students and schools that go beyond the lunch room. The information collected in these forms helps determine state and federal funding for schools including for technology and other resources for classrooms, teachers, and children. High school students looking to take the SATs or ACTs can also get fee waivers based on these forms.
Each school has its own form, and parents can check their kids' backpacks to find the forms. Kids with negative balances on their lunch accounts would have received a notice along with a copy of the form. Alternatively, you can fill the form out online. You can navigate to the form from this page (just click on the apple near the bottom of the page) or go here.
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