No Cost Student Meals Again for 2024-2025 School Year

Autauga County Schools participates in the USDA's National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program, and under the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), breakfast and lunch will be provided at no charge to all students for the 2024-2025 school year! No applications or additional information is required. 

Autauga County Schools participated in CEP last year, and due to the success and participation of students consuming meals, ACS will be able to participate again this year!  Please encourage students to participate in breakfast and lunch to ensure success and program longevity. Students may enjoy full meals every school day or supplement meals from home with vitamin-rich foods such as fruit, vegetables, and milk.  If your student only needs milk from the cafeteria, they must choose food items, but everything remains free of charge.  They can eat the items, share them with their classmates, or add them to the "share table" most cafeterias maintain.

Community Eligibility Provision is a key provision of the Healthy, Hunger Free Kids Act of 2010, which allows schools and school districts to eliminate school meal applications and serve breakfast and lunch at no charge to all enrolled students. CEP gives food service professionals more time to focus on preparing nutritious meals. More importantly, by offering all students a nutritious breakfast or lunch at no cost, CEP helps ensure more students come to class well-nourished and ready to learn. All meals will follow the United States Department of Agriculture's guidelines for healthy school meals. 

"I am thrilled that our district will offer free meals again this year," Audra Segers, Child Nutrition Program Director, said. "Food insecurity, due in part to economic inflation, is a real concern for many families.  Our summer feeding program proved that families are in need and that every little bit helps." The district experienced a 20% growth in participation from the 2022-2023 school year to the 2023-2024 school year, demonstrating that paying for meals was a barrier for several families. "Offering free meals during the school year helps eliminate at least one worry for parents and students so they can focus on learning and making the most of this school year."

Schools are still offering an a la carte menu of "extra" items that can be purchased but are not required. While school-specific menus will vary based on availability and product demand, the most common items that meet smart snack requirements are chips, ice cream, and drinks. These items can range in price from $.50 to $3.50. Purchases can be made by loading student accounts through cash, check, or paying online at www.paypams.com.

For more information, contact Audra Segers, Child Nutrition Program Director.