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Students at lunch - cafeteria

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 (HOUSTON) – Students at 166 Houston schools can receive free lunch this year, regardless of income.

A new federal initiative known as Community Eligibility Provision expands Houston ISD’s free food offerings beyond breakfast, which the district has provided without cost since 2010.

While the district will no longer collect the traditional school meal application, parents will be sent a CEP form to help program administrators determine other sources of state and federal funding.

Click here to see if your campus is offering free lunch.

“We think there will be many benefits, including reducing any stigma students might find associated with free meals,” said Audene Chung, HISD’s Nutrition Services administrator.

“Regardless of income, all students at participating schools will be able to eat well.”

The program, a product of the Healthy, Hunger Free Kids Act of 2011, has been piloted in states and districts, including Detroit and Chicago.

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166 Houston Schools Open Free Lunch to All Students  was originally published on news92fm.com