Baldwin County Public Schools recently announced its policy for free and reduced-price meals for children served in schools under the National School Lunch Program and/or School Breakfast Program.

For the 2026-2027 school year, BCPS will continue participation in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). No action is required of parents or students. This USDA provision allows children to participate in the school meal programs without having to pay a fee or submit a meal application.

CEP is a key provision of the Healthy, Hunger Free Kids Act of 2010, which allows schools and school districts in low-income areas 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 that their students will enjoy and gives students more time to eat those meals by cutting down on time spent in the lunch line, according to a notice sent to media by the school district.

"More importantly, by offering all students a nutritious breakfast and lunch at no cost, CEP helps ensure more students come to class well-nourished and ready to learn," the notice reads.

Breakfast and lunch meals will follow the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) guidelines for healthy school meals.

"In the operation of child feeding programs, no child will be discriminated against because of race, sex, color, national origin, age or disability," the notice reads.

Parents or guardians who need further information may contact Erin Miller, Child Nutrition Program director, at (251) 970-4402.