Midland ISD expanding free school meal program

Midland ISD is expanding its free school meal program to include eight school campuses this coming school year.

These schools — Lamar Elementary, Henderson Elementary, South Elementary, De Zavala Elementary, Bunche Elementary, Burnet Elementary, Long Elementary and Pre-K Academy of MD — are eligble for the Community Eligibility Program (CEP) under the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program.

Those schools will serve breakfast and lunch to all children at no charge, eliminating the collection of meal applications and meal payments, according to the school district.

“The purpose of the CEP is to simplify the process for both families and school staff, allowing students to get the nutritious meals they need,” the district said.

All other MISD campuses will receive free and reduced meal application forms that may be completed in person or online.

MISD parents will receive information prior to the start of the school year. Questions can be directed to the MISD Child Nutrition Services Department at 432-240-1840.

Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) Frequently Asked Questions

What is CEP?  Community Eligibility Provision is a USDA program that allows eligible schools to serve all students in the eligible schools a free breakfast and a free lunch.

When does it start?  CEP in Midland ISD will begin the first day of school in the 2024-2025 school year.

Why does my child’s school not qualify for CEP?

Your child’s school did not meet the minimum identified student percentage to qualify for the program. Identified students are obtained from the Texas Department of Agriculture and are referred to as “directly certified” students. Usually these students participate in another qualifying program such as SNAP, Medicaid, homeless, migrant, or runaways.  The minimum percentage to qualify for the CEP and maintain MISD financial accountability is 62%.  Schools are evaluated each March to see if the school will qualify for CEP for the following school year.

If I have funds on my child’s meal account, should I request a refund?

No, you do not have to request a refund.  The funds in your child’s account may be used to purchase healthy a la carte snacks or an additional entree or food item.  Funds on meal accounts will roll over year to year, so you do not need to worry about losing the money on the account.

What if my child wants the entree or just one item from the breakfast or lunch line?

Students at participating campuses must take a complete meal to receive it at no cost.  If a student chooses to take only one or two items, they must pay a la carte pricing for those items.

Do CEP schools have a different menu or different food from other Midland ISD schools?

No, the same food is served to all students.

Do I need to fill out the school income survey form?

Yes, In order to maintain other funding, Midland ISD still needs to collect this very important form in order not to lose funding or services for all students.

If one of my children will attend a CEP school, but another child attends a NON-CEP school, do I need to fill out a free and reduced meal form?

Yes, you need to complete a free and reduced meal form at the NON-CEP school or online.  Remember to list all children and all adults in the household with their income frequency, along with your signature so we can process that form immediately.

If my student transfers from a CEP school to a NON-CEP school, will I need to fill out a free and reduced meal form?

Yes, you will need to complete a free and reduced meal form online or on paper for the NON-CEP school.

How will CEP affect Title 1 funding?

CEP will not impact the total amount of Title 1 funding received at the district level.  However, it may impact the distribution of percentages for funding received at the campus level.