Commission renews push for universal free school breakfast as CEP participation falls
Commissioners and public health advocates urged renewed action on universal free school breakfast after reports that several divisions dropped CEP participation and staff described reimbursement gains and remaining gaps. Advocates say universal school meals save families roughly $864 per student annually.
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The Commission to End Hunger renewed support for a universal free school breakfast on the heels of new data showing several school divisions have left the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). Chair, who led the agenda item, said recent budget amendments have increased the school breakfast reimbursement rate to about $0.50 per reimbursed meal and that the Commonwealth used roughly $17,000,000 in the latest budget cycle to lift reimbursements. "The school breakfast reimbursement rate has more than doubled in the last few years," the Chair said, and commissioners discussed using a budget amendment to expand coverage.
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