USDA has released COVID-19 flexibilities to allow ALL children 18 years and under to receive free breakfast and lunch through the school meal program. This decision will help ensure children have access to nutritious meals as the country recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. The new flexibility is effective September 1, 2020, and will extend through December 31, 2020.
Any student enrolled in the Digital Learning Academy or attending in-person learning may receive a free breakfast and lunch each day regardless of his/her current meal status. Parents of our Digital Learning Academy students may contact the school each morning to request a free meal for children in the household who are 18 years and under. School personnel will provide guidance on the curb-side meal pickup procedures.
During our off-campus Fridays, families may submit the online meal form located on the school website to request the number of free meals for delivery or pick-up. The online form must be submitted by Thursday at noon each week to provide the cafeteria staff an accurate meal count.
Please note this new flexibility will expire on December 31, 2020. Therefore, when school resumes in January, breakfast and lunch will no longer be free and meal cost will be applied to student accounts based on the child’s 2020-21 school year eligibility status of free, reduced, or paid. Parents are strongly encouraged to complete and submit a 2020-21 meal application in preparation for the expiration of this flexibility.
If you have any questions regarding the new COVID-19 meal flexibility allowing free meals for children 18 years and under, you may contact Paige Garner at garnerp@gcssd.org.