Free Lunches at Macon County High Schools

Macon County -- August 14, 2024: Macon County Government announced two schools added to receive CEP

funding allowing students to eat lunch at no cost. This means that all schools in the county wiil be receiving CEP funding. School Nutrition Director David Lightner presented to the Macon County Board of Commissioners Tuesday night.

During his presentation, Mr. Lightner requested $200,000 in funding to support providing all students at Franklin High School and Highlands School lunch at no cost for the 2024-2025 school year. This would ensure that every student at FHS and Highlands receives a nutritious lunch at no cost, addressing our students' basic needs and promoting their success both academically and personally

Following the presentation, the Macon County Board of County Commissioners approved 3-2 to fulfill the request for the 2024-2025 school year.

The Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) is a non-pricing meal service option for schools and school districts in low-income areas. CEP allows the nation’s highest-poverty schools and districts to serve breakfast and lunch at no cost to all enrolled students without collecting household applications. Instead, schools that adopt CEP are reimbursed using a formula based on the percentage of students categorically eligible for free meals based on their participation in other specific means-tested programs, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).