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For the second year in a row, Troup County School System students 18-years-old and younger will be eating one free breakfast and one free lunch meal thanks to an extension of the Seamless Summer Option program sponsored by the United States Department of Agriculture.

TCSS announced the news via a press release Thursday.

“This extension will save elementary parents almost $15 per week while parents of middle and high school kids will save a little over $20 per week,” said Diane Pain, Director of School Nutrition for TCSS.

“As long as a child is 18 or younger, they will be provided breakfast and lunch at no cost.”   

In addition, TCSS announced that Garden Newman and Long Cane Middle School have been added to the Community Eligibility Provision Program. This is the seventh consecutive year of the program.

The following schools are designated as CEP locations:  Berta Weathersbee Elementary School, Callaway Middle School, Callaway High School, Clearview Elementary School, Ethel W. Kight Elementary School, Franklin Forest Elementary School, Gardner Newman Middle School, Hogansville Elementary School, Long Cane Middle School and West Point Elementary School.

“CEP makes it easier for high-needs schools to serve free breakfast and lunch to all students whether it was designated by the federal government or not,” Pain said. “This means that even when other schools are no longer under the Seamless Summer Option, students who attend CEP schools will continue receiving free meals.”

TCSS is one of over 40 Georgia counties that has implemented CEP. With this continued program:

4All students at the 10 identified schools receive free breakfast and lunch.

4Families at the 10 identified CEP schools do not have to complete school lunch forms.

4All elementary school students throughout the district will continue receiving free breakfast.

4TCSS will no longer require reduced-meal students and families to pay for meals at other elementary, middle and high schools not identified as CEP, essentially making breakfast and lunch free of charge for all students who qualify under reduced meal plans.