The free school meal program that was federally funded beginning March 2020 is set to expire in June 2022. This means the free breakfast and lunch meals offered to all CRCSD students the last two years will not be extended for the upcoming 2022-2023 school year.

While the universal program is no longer funded, Cedar Rapids Community School District has many schools that will qualify for Community Eligibility Program (CEP) status for the 2022-2023 school year. This means many of our schools will continue to have free breakfast and lunch for all students. The following schools will continue with free meals in the 2022-2023 school year under the CEP umbrella.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS:
Arthur, Cleveland, Cedar River Academy at Taylor, Erskine, Garfield, Grant, Grant Wood, Harrison, Hiawatha, Hoover, Johnson, Kenwood, Madison, Nixon, Van Buren, and Wright

MIDDLE SCHOOLS:
Franklin, McKinley, Roosevelt, and Wilson

HIGH SCHOOLS:
Jefferson, Metro, Polk Alternative

We understand this change may cause you concern if your student’s school is not listed above. There are important steps you can take today to make sure your student receives the meals they need next year.

  • Complete an application for free and reduced meals (if you feel you meet the income guidelines and do not currently qualify).
    • If you complete the 2021-22 application for free and reduced priced meals before the end of this school year and qualify for free or reduced meals, you are given a 30-day grace period at the start of the 2022-2023 school year to complete another application for next year.
    • Then, complete the 2022-2023 application which will be available on the District’s website after July 1, 2022.
    • Even if you complete the 2021-2022 application now, you will still need to complete the 2022-2023 application as well. A new application must be completed every year.
  • Deposit money into your student’s meal account.
    • Families that do not qualify for free meals can start depositing money into their student’s account at Send Money to School to prepare for the cost of school meals next year.
  • Budget for the cost of school meals (if your student or school does not qualify for free meals).
    • Information on meal prices for the 2022-2023 school year will be available on the CRCSD website July 2022.

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 https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USDA-OASCR%20P-Complaint-Form-0508-0002-508-11-28-17Fax2Mail.pdf 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: program.intake@usda.gov.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Iowa Non-Discrimination Statement:
“It is the policy of this CNP provider not to discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or religion in its programs, activities, or employment practices as required by the Iowa Code section 216.6, 216.7, and 216.9. If you have questions or grievances related to compliance with this policy by this CNP Provider, please contact the Iowa Civil Rights Commission, Grimes State Office building, 400 E. 14th St. Des Moines, IA 50319-1004; phone number 515-281-4121, 800-457-4416; website: https://icrc.iowa.gov/.”