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Thanks to the Community Eligibility Provision program, some students in Troup County will again receive free breakfast, lunch or both.

The CEP program works to stop food deficiencies by providing free breakfast and lunch and is a partnership between the Troup County School System and the United States Department of Agriculture, according to a press release from TCSS. 

The following schools will be participating:

Free Breakfast: Callaway Elementary School, Hillcrest Elementary School, Hollis Hand Elementary School, Long Cane Elementary School, and Rosemont Elementary School.

Free Breakfast and Lunch: Berta Weathersbee Elementary School, Callaway Middle School, Callaway High School, Clearview Elementary School, Ethel W. Knight Elementary School, Franklin Forest Elementary School, Gardner Newman Middle School, Hogansville Elementary School, Long Cane Middle School, and West Point Elementary School.

As noted by the press release, this year makes eight years of the program.  that helps to improve access to free school meals and eliminates the household and administrative burden of completing and collecting household applications.

“CEP makes it easier for parents to provide meals for their children,” said Diane Pain, Director TCSS Nutrition. “This program helps to greatly reduce the amount that parents spend on food each week. We are glad to continue this program since it helps more students to receive healthy and balanced meals.”

Historically, TCSS is one of over 40 Georgia counties that has implemented CEP.

According to the press release, families at the ten aforementioned CEP schools do not have to complete school lunch forms. All elementary school students throughout the district will continue receiving free breakfast. TCSS will no longer require reduced-meal students and families to pay for meals at other elementary, middle and high schools not identified as CEP, making breakfast and lunch free of charge for all students who qualify for reduced meal plans.