MOUNT VERNON — All students at Mount Vernon City Schools will have free breakfast and lunch for the 2024-25 school year.
The district will participate in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) program, allowing all K through 12 students free breakfast and lunch.
According to the USDA’s website, Community Eligibility Provision is a no-cost meal service option for students for up to four consecutive years in approved schools.
Schools that adopt CEP are reimbursed using a formula based on the percentage of students categorically eligible for free meals. The formula is based on the school’s participation in other specific means-tested programs, according to USDA’s webpage on CEP.
These include Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), among others.
The criteria needed for CEP
The average percentage for the entire district has to be more than 25% identified student percentage for the district to qualify to offer free meals for all students, Mount Vernon City Schools treasurer Judy Forney said. The average of the district’s ISP numbers is 44.68%, Forney added.
East Knox Local School District agreed to participate in the program in June.