Newark, MD, August 1, 2023– As kids prepare to head back to school for the 2023-2024 school year, Worcester County Public Schools is proud to announce that it will start to operate the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) at nine schools in the school system beginning this school year.
Utilizing CEP, all students at the nine eligible school sites will be able to access nutritious meals at no cost. This is important as school meal programs play a crucial role in ensuring kids get three meals a day and have the nutrition they need to thrive in and out of the classroom.
The nine schools that were certified by Maryland State Department of Education for CEP are Pocomoke Elementary, Middle and High Schools; Snow Hill Elementary, Middle, and High Schools; Cedar Chapel Special School, Buckingham Elementary School, and Berlin Intermediate School. For schools not currently certified in the CEP Program, a review of eligibility criteria will be conducted annually throughout the four-year CEP cycle.
CEP is a federal program that enables qualifying schools to serve free meals to all students without the hassle or perceived stigma of completing free and reduced meal applications. While applications are no longer required for meals, to maintain other benefits for both our students and schools, every student at a CEP eligible school is asked to complete an Alternative Income Eligibility form each school year.
“Research has often shown that students cannot be taught if their immediate needs – including hunger – aren’t met,” Superintendent of Schools Lou Taylor said. “By implementing CEP at these schools, we are ensuring that our students can realize success without the burden of food insecurity.”