Meal Services / Special Programs
cOMMUNITY eLIGIBILITY pROVISION pROGRAM (cep)
The Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) is a powerful tool to ensure children in low-income communities have access to healthy school meals. CEP allows participating schools to offer healthy, free breakfasts and lunches to all students at the school without requiring their families to complete individual Free and Reduced-Price Meal (FARM) Applications.
- If all of your children attend a CEP school, you will not need to complete a FARM application for your children to receive free meals at the CEP school.
- However, the free meals through CEP only apply to meals served at the CEP School. If they are visiting a non-CEP school and purchase a meal, they will be charged for that meal at the standard pricing.
- However, the free meals through CEP only apply to meals served at the CEP School. If they are visiting a non-CEP school and purchase a meal, they will be charged for that meal at the standard pricing.
- If your child transfers out of a CEP school, you will need to complete a FARM Application to receive free meals at their new school.
- If you have children that attend non-CEP schools, you will need to complete a FARM Application to receive free meals at the non-CEP school.
WCPS has 25 schools that have been approved for CEP:
- Bester Elementary
- Cascade Elementary
- E. Russell Hick Middle
- Eastern Elementary
- Emma K. Doub Elementary
- Family Center
- Fountain Rock Elementary
- Hancock Elementary
- Hancock Middle-High
- Hickory Elementary
- InnovatED Learning Center
- Jonathan Hager Elementary
- Lincolnshire Elementary
- Marshall Street School
- Maugansville Elementary
- Northern Middle
- Pangborn Elementary
- Potomac Heights Elementary
- Ruth Ann Monroe Primary
- Salem Avenue Elementary
- South Hagerstown High
- Springfield Middle
- Western Heights Middle
- Williamsport Elementary
- Williamsport High
Maryland Meals for Achievement (MMFA)
Maryland leads the country in ensuring students can start the day ready to learn with the Maryland Meals for Achievement (MMFA) program. MMFA provides state funding to supplement federal meal reimbursements so schools can offer breakfast in the classroom for all students at no charge. MMFA funding only provides a free meal at breakfast. In order to receive a free lunch in a MMFA school, you must complete a FARM Application.
A school is eligible when at least 40 percent of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals. Research has shown participating schools enjoy significantly higher breakfast participation, improved student attendance, and improved student behavior. MMFA funding is awarded annually through a application process.
WCPS has 9 schools that have been approved for MMFA:
- Clear Spring Elementary
- Clear Spring High
- Clear Spring Middle
- Fountaindale Elementary
- North Hagerstown High
- Paramount Elementary
- Rockland Woods Elementary
- Smithsburg Middle
- South Hagerstown High
child and adult care food program (CACFP)
The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) contributes to the wellness, healthy growth, and development of young children and adults in the United States by providing federal reimbursements for nutritious meals served to children and youth participating in afterschool care programs.
A school must have a minimum of 50% FARM rate to be eligible.
WCPS has 32 schools that are eligible to offer the free supper program during after school activities:
- Bester Elementary
- Cascade Elementary
- Clear Spring High
- Clear Spring Middle
- E. Russell Hicks Middle
- Eastern Elementary
- Emma K. Doub Elementary
- Family Center
- Fountaindale Elementary
- Fountain Rock Elementary
- Hancock Elementary
- Hancock Middle/High
- Hickory Elementary
- Innovated Learning Center
- Jonathan Hager Elementary
- Lincolnshire Elementary
- Marshall Street School
- Maugansville Elementary
- North Hagerstown High
- Northern Middle
- Pangborn Elementary
- Potomac Heights Elementary
- Rockland Woods Elementary
- Ruth Ann Monroe Elementary
- Salem Avenue Elementary
- Smithsburg High
- Smithsburg Middle
- South Hagerstown High
- Springfield Middle
- Western Heights Middle
- Williamsport Elementary
- Williamsport High
School Breakfast Program (SBP)
Starting the school day right with a healthy breakfast. The School Breakfast Program (SBP) is a federally assisted meal program. It began as a pilot project in 1966, and was made permanent in 1975. The SBP is administrered at the federal level by Food and Nutrition Service and by the state education agencies at the state level. Local school authorities operate the program in schools.
All Washington County Public Schools offer school breakfast.