By Kevin Deutsch
Students at 167 public schools, including in Margate and Coconut Creek, can now get free school breakfasts and lunches—without their parents completing an application.
Broward County Public Schools on Monday announced the district is operating under the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), a federal program that pays for meals for every student who wants them at 167 eligible BCPS schools.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture offers CEP to schools where enough students qualify for various anti-poverty programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. BCPS officials said they identified 167 schools where 40 percent or more students qualify for those programs, thus satisfying the criteria for CEP.
School officials said that parents do not need to complete an application for their kids to get free meals at the 167 schools operating under CEP.
The schools where all students can now eat free school breakfasts and lunches are, according to BCPS:
In Margate:
Margate Elementary School, Margate Middle School, Liberty Elementary School, and Atlantic West Elementary School.
In Coconut Creek:
Coconut Creek Elementary School and Coconut Creek High School
The 61 schools in the district not currently eligible for CEP will keep serving free breakfasts to all students who want them through the Universal Free Breakfast Program (UFBP). Students may also qualify for free or reduced-price lunches in those schools for 40 cents.
To apply for the lunch program, families must complete an application at www.myschoolapps.com.
For assistance with completing applications for free or reduced-price lunches, families can contact the BCPS Food and Nutrition Services Department at 754-321-0250.
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