NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — Students in Newport News won't have to worry about paying for breakfast or lunch during the 2019 to 2020 school year.
Michelle Price, a spokesperson for the district, confirmed that the Virginia Department of Education gave the district approval to use the Community Eligibility Provision, a federal program that reimburses schools based on the percentage of students eligible for free meals.
Schools that are eligible must have at least 40 percent of their students who are a part of other assistance programs like SNAP or TANF. These students qualify for free school meals without the use of a school meal program.
"All students in Newport News Public Schools can receive a free, healthy breakfast and lunch every school day," said Price. "The free meals are offered through a special provision, called the Community Eligibility Provision, of the National School Breakfast and Lunch Program."
The Community Eligibility Provision was authorized by Congress as part of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010.
According to Price, student participation in the program is automatic and families won't need to fill out any applications.