No-Cost Meal Program Expands to Include More Schools

Thirty-seven DMPS schools participate in the Community Eligibility Program, making no-cost meals available to all students.

DES MOINES, IA (August 5, 2015) – More Des Moines Public Schools students will be offered breakfast and lunch at no cost during the 2015-16 school year.

The federal Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) will support no-cost meals for all DMPS students enrolled at 37 schools and four early learning centers.

Funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, CEP helps schools that predominantly serve low-income children to offer free, nutritious school meals to all students through the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs.

“For some of our students, these meals are the only meals they will receive on a given day.” Superintendent Dr. Thomas Ahart said. “Programs like this contribute to improved student performance, and help us prepare all students for the next stage of their lives.”

DMPS will offer meals at no cost to all students at these 41 schools and early learning centers:

Elementary Schools:
• Brubaker Elementary
• Capitol View Elementary
• Carver Elementary
• Cattell Elementary
• Edmunds Elementary
• Findley Elementary
• Garton Elementary
• Howe Elementary
• Jackson Elementary
• King Elementary
• Lovejoy Elementary
• Madison Elementary
• McKinley Elementary
• Monroe Elementary
• Morris Elementary
• Moulton Extended Learning Center
• Oak Park Elementary
• Park Avenue Elementary
• River Woods Elementary
• Samuelson Elementary
• Smouse Opportunity School
• South Union Elementary
• Stowe Elementary
• Studebaker Elementary
• Willard Elementary
• Windsor Elementary
• Wright Elementary

Middle Schools:
• Callanan
• Harding
• Hiatt
• Hoyt
• McCombs
• Meredith
• Weeks

High Schools:
• Hoover
• North
• Scavo

Early Learning Centers:
• Woodlawn
• Taylor
• McKee
• Mitchell

In 2013-14, DMPS offered no-cost meals at 13 schools. With the introduction of CEP in 2014-15, the offering was expanded to cover a total of 35 schools and three early learning centers. This school year, 37 schools and four early learning centers will be included.

“We are pleased to again expand the no-cost meal program,” Director of Food and Nutrition Management Sandy Huisman said. “We want to ensure all kids have access to a nutritious breakfast and lunch without worrying about barriers.”

According to the Iowa Department of Education, more than 500 schools across Iowa qualify, or nearly qualify, for CEP.