By JIM BUTLER

Good news for every student’s household came as a last-minute mention at June’s School Board meeting.

As adjournment was being called Supt. Jeff Powell learned the system has again qualified for the program providing no-charge (FREE) breakfast and lunch to every student. 

The Community Eligibility Provision enables schools to provide no-charge meals regardless a student’s socio-economic standing.

That’s about 23,000 students daily in Rapides. 

Downside to being eligible for the program is that it’s low-income driven: at least 25 percent of a system’s families have to fall below the threshold. 

The most-obvious benefit from the program is every student has the opportunity for two meals daily. 

The USDA says research demonstrates that access to school meals at no cost improves students’ diet quality and academic performance and can reduce social stigma and food insecurity.

Researchers have observed that “CEP exposure is associated with an almost five percent decline in households classified as food insecure.” 

The program is also credited with reducing administrative burden and eliminating unpaid meal debt in schools.