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April 11, 2017

NJ makes progress on Community Eligibility

More New Jersey school districts are using a federal option that allows them to collect higher school meal reimbursements – and feed more hungry students. The Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) allows high-poverty schools to reduce paperwork, while receiving federal funding to feed all students.

In the 2015-16 school year, 71 New Jersey districts took advantage of this option, up from 50 in the previous school year, according to a recent report from the Food Research Action Center. Districts using this option report increased student participation in school meals programs – and higher federal reimbursements.

The NJ Department of Agriculture will notify eligible districts by April 15 for the coming school year. Webinars will be held in April. Stay tuned for more details.

Learn more about CEP.

Check out this fabulous school breakfast video!

Manchester Regional High School students produced and starred in this fun, informative video about school breakfast in their school. While breakfast after the bell has taken hold in many elementary and middle schools across the state, high schools have been slower to make the critical switch from serving breakfast before school to serving it during the first few minutes of the school day. Kudos to these talented high schoolers for raising awareness of breakfast after the bell for teens!

Watch and share this great video. 

Calling all summer meals sites!

Summer meals sponsors across New Jersey are gearing up to serve meals to children this summer. This summertime nutrition is critical, especially for kids who rely on school meals during the academic year. Sponsors provide meals to sites, including recreation programs, community pools, community athletic programs, libraries, faith-based organizations and others that host summer programs for kids.

To learn about opportunities to be a summer meals site, please contact the New Jersey Department of Agriculture at 609-292-4498 or by emailing SFSPCommunication@ag.state.nj.us.

School nutrition programs appear safe – for now.

The good news is that the current budget proposal that Congress is considering does not, at this point, call for cuts to school nutrition programs. While proposals are being considered to cut other child nutrition programs, school breakfast and lunch are not among them. There is, however, a proposal to reduce funding for afterschool programs, which are increasingly serving meals to children.

ACNJ will continue to monitor federal budget developments and keep you informed.

The Food for Thought School Breakfast Campaign is a partnership of state agencies, child advocates, anti-hunger coalitions, statewide education organizations and national organizations.

View a list of campaign partners.


Advocates for Children of New Jersey
 35 Halsey Street 2nd Floor, Newark, NJ 07102
(Between Bleeker St. and Central Ave.)
973.643.3876 I Fax 973.643.9153 I www.acnj.org 
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