Trumbull Career & Technical Center latest Valley school to offer free breakfast, lunch to students

Trumbull Career & Technical Center (TCTC) is the latest Valley school to operate under the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP).

According to a press release, schools qualifying to operate under the CEP are able to provide free breakfast and lunch to children who qualify and eliminate the collection of meal applications for free, reduced price and paid student meal.

This in turn reduces burdens for families and school administrators while ensuring students receive nutritious meals.

The program is operated under the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). According to USDA's website, the program is operated by public or non-profit private schools at a high school level and below.

According to USDA, children may be determined "categorically eligible" for free or reduced price meals through participation in certain federal assistance programs like SNAP or based on their status as a homeless, migrant, runaway or foster child.

Children can also qualify based on household income and family size. Children from families with incomes at or below 130% of the Federal poverty level are eligible for free meals. Those with incomes between 130 and 185% of the Federal poverty level are eligible for reduced price meals.

You can see the current eligibility guidelines by clicking here.

According to the release, families with children eligible for the program may also be eligible for free health care coverage through Medicaid or Ohio's Healthy Start & Healthy Families Programs. 

The programs include coverage for doctor's visits, immunizations, physicals, dental, vision, mental health, substance abuse and more.

You can request an application by the program by calling 1-800-324-8680.