Belleville 118 and other Metro East districts join chorus of free school meals for all

For the first time since the coronavirus pandemic, all students in Belleville District 118 and some other Metro East schools can get breakfast and lunch at school for free.

The districts are providing them through the Community Eligibility Provision, a federal program that allows eligible schools to give breakfast and lunch to all students at no charge, regardless of family income and without submitting an application.

“It’s been an awesome thing for our families,” said Belleville 118 Superintendent Ryan Boike.

To qualify for the Community Eligibility Provision, at least 40% of a school’s students must be certified as eligible for free school meals through participation in programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, previously known as the food stamps program.

For a school with an eligibility rate of between 40-62.5%, the federal government reimburses a percentage of meals served by the school at the free rate and the rest at the paid rate, meaning the school has to cover some of the costs for its participation.

But for a school more than 62.5% of its students eligible, the federal government reimburses all meals served by the school at the free rate, essentially covering all of the school’s costs.

“Once you reach that threshold, it basically becomes a win-win all around,” Belleville 118 Director of Food Services Steve Ebbesmeyer said.