OCPS to serve all students all school meals at no charge for 2024-25

Through the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), Orange County Public Schools (OCPS) will once again serve all students in the district all school meals at no charge for the upcoming school year. This initiative emphasizes the district’s commitment to ensuring that every student has access to nutritious meals that support their health and academic success.

There is no need for families to submit any forms or applications to qualify for this benefit, unless a family has children enrolled at one of the three new schools opening this year: Atwater Bay Elementary School, Luminary Middle School and Innovation High School. These new schools do not yet have the student household data necessary to gain CEP status.

To mitigate this expense, OCPS asks that families attending the new schools fill out the Meals Benefits Application and qualify for the federal funds used to subsidize the OCPS meal program. To apply, parents must visit myschoolapps.ocps.net or visit their school’s website.

Benefits of Community Eligibility Provision (CEP):

• Nutritional Support: Every student will have access to balanced and healthy meals, which are essential for their physical and cognitive development.
• Increased Participation: With the elimination of meal fees, more students are likely to participate in the school meal program, leading to higher overall student well-being.
• Reduced Stigma: Universal free meals remove the stigma associated with free or reduced-price meal programs, fostering a more inclusive and supportive school environment.
• Administrative Efficiency: Schools can streamline their operations, focusing more on serving nutritious meals and less on managing meal applications and payments.

“Our goal is to ensure that no child goes hungry and that all students have the nutrition they need to succeed,” said Mark Watson, OCPS Food and Nutrition Services senior director. “By participating in the CEP program, we are taking a significant step towards improving the well-being of our students and removing any barriers to their academic success.”

For more information about the Meals Benefits Application, contact the Food and Nutrition Services Meal Benefits Team at 407-858-3110 or email Meal.Applications@ocps.net.

The Apopka Chief and The Planter are weekly community newspapers, independently owned and family operated, that have served the greater Apopka area in Central Florida since 1923 and 1965 respectively.

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