More schools in Tennessee eligible for free school meals

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — More schools in Tennessee are eligible to serve free breakfast and lunch to students after a change in the rules from the federal government.

The Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) is an optional program for eligible schools in the country to provide school meals at no cost to students. It was authorized through the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 and allows schools to eliminate the need for household income applications for free or reduced meals.

In order to be eligible for CEP, a school, group of schools, or school district must meet a certain threshold of enrolled students in need based on income levels. For many years, the necessary threshold was 40% of enrolled students receiving free or reduced meals.

But in September of last year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture lowered the necessary percentage of students to just 25%, opening up free meals to more students in the nation. The rule took effect in October.

Tullahoma City Schools is just one school district celebrating the move into CEP for the coming school year. School officials said they would also have more options for students needing breakfast at school.

“We are excited about this new opportunity and will be offering breakfast in alternative locations and at extended times to ensure that all students can start the day with a fueled body, helping to enhance their learning experience and set them up for success,” said TCS Director of Nutrition Angela White. “Even more great news is that every child automatically qualifies for free meals, so no Free and Reduced Meal applications are necessary. This streamlines our process and eliminates the paperwork hassle.”

Additionally, the state of Tennessee announced in early 2023 that it was joining 13 other states in using Medicaid data to determine eligibility for CEP.

According to the USDA, the move allows Medicaid eligibility data to “directly certify” students as eligible for CEP, thus helping schools and school districts meet the necessary threshold for providing no-cost food to students.

“Direct certification decreases errors in school meal program administration and helps ensure children in need receive healthy meals at school,” USDA Food and Nutrition Service, Southeast Region Administrator Willie C. Taylor. “With direct certification, the administrative burden on schools is reduced and the application process for families is simplified—additionally.”

According to the Tennessee Department of Education, CEP is a voluntary decision for any school district, and they must make certain opting into CEP is financially viable.

“The Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) gives school districts more flexibility to offer no-cost meals to all enrolled students if financially viable and helps with the administrative burden of collecting household applications. With the new minimum Identified Student Percentage (ISP) threshold, more districts were eligible for CEP. An increase in CEP participation was also seen due to Tennessee participating in a Medicaid Demonstration Pilot that allowed LEAs to use Medicaid data (for students already eligible or receiving Medicaid benefits) towards their ISP percentages,” said Director of Media Brian Blackley.

“The USDA changed their requirements so more LEAs have decided to inquire about CEP or decided to elect CEP due to the USDA change and Medicaid Pilot,” he added.

Providing more students with free, nutritious meals has been celebrated and practiced in Nashville for several years.

Metro Nashville students have been receiving free meals since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, according to district spokesperson Sean Braisted. At first, the free meals were provided through a COVID-related USDA waiver program. Later, the meals came from additional funding through the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) program and the Metro Nashville government, Braisted told News 2.

“Nutritious meals are essential to effective learning, growth, and development,” said Dr. Adrienne Battle, Director of Metro Nashville Public Schools. “It is not only the moral and right thing to do to provide all students with a free meal, but it will also benefit their academic and social-emotional growth throughout the school day.”

“We will continue this in the 2024-2025 school year,” Braisted added, “so students who attend a non-CEP school will still receive no-cost meals.”

And while Metro Schools don’t have in-house empirical data specifically tied to school nutrition programs, Braisted said the district has seen year-over-year growth and gains in TCAP results since the district implemented the free school meals. The district’s growth has also outpaced state-level growth in several areas for the third year in a row since testing resumed for all students in the 2021-2022 school year.

Outside of the pandemic-era programs, most Metro Nashville schools qualify for CEP. Of the 142 schools in Metro Nashville, 111 qualify. Based on 2023-2024 enrollment figures, 58% of Metro students qualify under CEP with the newly expanded Medicaid certification. Before the expansion, it would have been 47.65%, according to Braisted.

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