Free summer meals available for children 18 and under

Free healthy and nutritious summer meals are available for all children ages 18 and under when school is out through the Sun Meals and Sun Meals-To-Go programs, funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and administered by the Illinois State Board of Education. Families can find a nearby meal site by calling 1-866-348-6479, texting SUMMER to 914-342-7744 or visiting HungerFreeAmerica.org.

Sun Meals Flyer – English

Sun Meals Flyer – Spanish

COMMUNITY ELIGIBILITY PROVISION (CEP)

All District 45 schools offer a new option called the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). The CEP is an alternative to collecting, approving, and verifying household eligibility applications for free and reduced-price eligible​ students in local educational agencies (LEAs) or schools participating in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs.​

With this option in place, all students enrolled in District 45 are eligible to receive a healthy breakfast and lunch at school at no charge to their household each day of this school year. All students will be able to participate in the meal program without having to pay a fee or submit an application, regardless of their economic status. Proof of CEP Participation Letter 2022.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP)

Q.     Will I be refunded the balance in our MySchoolBucks account?
A.    Yes, to receive a refund, please email [email protected] or call (630) 516-7759.

Q. What is the Community Eligibility Provision, or CEP?
A. The Community Eligibility Provision is part of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010. It allows schools with higher concentrations of students who qualify for the federal free and reduced-price lunch and breakfast program to provide breakfast and lunch to all students at no charge.

Q.    When can my child start eating school meals at no charge?
A.    The CEP program will begin on the first day of school.

Q.    Do I still need to fill out an application for free/reduced price meals at the beginning of the school year?
A.    No, you no longer need to complete any paperwork to receive meals.

Q.    Does my child have to participate in the CEP Program?
A.    No, participation is voluntary, and students may elect to eat breakfast and/or lunch if they choose to do so. Parents may elect to pack a lunch for their child if they’d prefer to do that. All meals exceed USDA mandated requirements and align with USDA dietary guidelines.

Q.    How are meals being paid for?
A.    The federal government provides reimbursement to District 45 for every breakfast and lunch served to cover the costs of food provided.

Q     Will registration fees or taxes be increased?
A.    No, as this is a federally funded program, it does not impact registration fees or taxes.

Q.   Will the same food service provider be used?
A.    Yes, District 45’s contract with the current provider runs through the 2025-26 school year.

Q.    Will lunch periods be extended?
A.    No, because of the change to CEP and the efficiency of processing students through lunch lines, we will be able to move students through more quickly.

Q.    Can the school menus be viewed?
A.    Yes, they will be posted starting at the beginning of August on the district website.

Q.   Does this include SASED Programs?
A.    No, this only applies to students who are registered at District 45.

Q.    Will the menu options for food change?
A.   Yes. Menu items will continue to change on a regular basis, as they have in the past. District 45 and the food service provider are required to follow guidelines set by the National School Lunch Program.

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA. 

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits.  Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.  Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1)  mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: [email protected].

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.