All students in Lexington County School District Three will continue to receive free breakfasts and lunches during the 2022-2023 school year as part of the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) program. This news is important to our Panther families because federal funding and waivers that allowed public schools across the country to provide no-cost meals to all students for the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic expired on June 30, 2022. As part of the CEP program, however, all students in Lexington School District Three will continue to receive free meals this upcoming school year.
The Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), a key allocation of The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, eliminates the requirement for parents/guardians to fill out Free and Reduced Meal applications for the upcoming school year. CEP also promotes equity across the district by eliminating out-of-pocket school meal costs for all families. In addition, the CEP program will make it easier for Lexington Three’s dedicated child nutrition staff members to streamline meal service operations and expand reach so that all students are nourished and ready to learn and grow.
“I am excited about the CEP program in Lexington Three and am sure that it will prove to be invaluable to families that are facing new or increased financial strain caused by the recent pandemic. By eliminating the need for parents to pay for school meals, that frees up resources that can then be used on other critical expenses such as rent, utilities and medicines, thus contributing to the overall well-being of our Panther families,” said Todd A. Bedenbaugh, Lexington Three’s Director of Child Nutrition and School Security.
Families that would like to add money to their child’s meal account for the purchase of additional food items during the school year can do so by clicking here.