Zoe Mckey, Staff Writer
Thousands more students in Prince William County Public Schools will gain access to free breakfast and lunch next year due to a significant change in eligibility criteria. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has lowered the threshold from 40% to 25% for the percentage of students needing to qualify for free meals for an entire school to offer them. This change will allow over 26,000 additional students to receive free meals in the upcoming school year, with 24 more schools joining the Community Eligibility Provision program.
The school district is actively informing families about this expansion, as many students in schools not covered by the provision still require paperwork and income verification for free meal eligibility. Teachers like Abby Izzo and Dominick Izzo anticipate that more students will benefit from this program, enhancing their ability to learn and succeed without the distraction of hunger. The expansion also eases financial burdens on parents, allowing funds to be redirected to other educational expenses.
