News Summary
A proposed $12 billion reduction to school meal programs poses a threat to the nutritional access of millions of students in South Carolina. The cuts could impact the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), putting essential meal services at risk for tens of thousands of children in various counties. Organizations are advocating for increased investment in school meal programs to combat food insecurity among students, as the need for free meals remains critical in the state.
Columbia, South Carolina – A proposed reduction of $12 billion to school meal programs by House Budget Committee Chair Jodey Arlington poses a significant threat to the nutritional access of millions of students in South Carolina and across the United States.
The proposed budget cuts jeopardize the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), a vital program that allows low-income schools to provide free breakfast and lunch to enrolled students without requiring household applications. If the eligibility threshold for the CEP is raised from 25% to 60% of students receiving benefits, many South Carolina districts, including Greenville County and Spartanburg District 06, risk losing access to essential meal services for tens of thousands of children.
Specifically, Greenville County could face the loss of CEP for over 31,000 students if the proposed threshold increase is enacted, while Spartanburg District 06 would impact 11,848 children. Nationwide, the changes threaten to exclude over 24,000 schools from the CEP program, affecting the nutrition of more than 12 million children.
South Carolina’s public school system currently serves free meals this academic year due to provisions stemming from a temporary budget law, which prevents reduced-price payments for eligible students. Last year, over 1.1 million reduced-cost meals were provided in the state’s public schools, leading to more than $427,000 in payments from families. However, should the proposed cuts be enacted, approximately 246,009 children in the state would not have access to free meals through CEP.
Impact by County
The impact of these potential cuts would vary across counties:
- Aiken County: 9 schools, 6,460 children
- Anderson 01: 5 schools, 3,328 children
- Anderson 02: 7 schools, 3,529 children
- Anderson 04: 6 schools, 3,054 children
- Anderson 05: 3 schools, 3,869 children
- Beaufort County: 21 schools, 10,936 children
- Charleston County: 65 schools, 32,886 children
- Greenville County: 30 schools, 31,355 children
- Horry County: 53 schools, 46,983 children
- Spartanburg 06: 15 schools, 11,848 children
- York 01: 9 schools, 5,084 children
- York 03: 19 schools, 14,926 children
Nutritional Needs and Food Insecurity
It is essential to note that more than 61% of children in South Carolina school districts live at or below the poverty level, with many families reporting significant food insecurity. The CEP enables eligible schools to receive federal reimbursements based on the percentage of students categorized as eligible for free meals, primarily due to participation in specific mean-tested programs such as SNAP and TANF.
Organizations such as the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and the Food Research and Action Center advocate for increased investment in CEP rather than cuts, stressing the program’s importance in providing nutritional access to school-aged children. Legislators and child advocates in South Carolina emphasize the need for continued efforts to ensure food security and combat hunger among students.
Supportive Legislation
In light of the growing concerns around meal access, recent laws in South Carolina have included prohibitions on using debt collectors for unpaid meal debts and banning the punishment of students for incurring such debts. These measures aim to alleviate pressure on families struggling to meet meal costs, reinforcing the state’s commitment to providing equitable access to nutritional support for all students.
Families are encouraged to check if their schools participate in the federal program that allows all students to eat for free, assisting in the ongoing efforts to address food inadequacies in schools.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
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Additional Resources
- WLTX News
- Independent Mail
- WSPA News
- Wikipedia: School Meal Program
- Encyclopedia Britannica: School Lunch
