WEST COLUMBIA, SC – Lexington Two students will eat breakfast and lunch meals at school at no cost during the 2025-2026 school year, with the district’s participation in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) program.
Section 104(a) of the Healthy, Hunger Free Kids Act of 2010 amended section 11(a)(1) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1759a(a) (1) (the law) provides an alternative to household applications for free and reduced-price meals in local educational agencies (LEAs) and schools with increased levels of low-income students. This alternative is referred to as the Community Eligibility Provision. All students enrolled in the district may participate at this time in the breakfast and lunch program at no charge to them. Families will not have to fill out meal applications. Students are encouraged to participate in the school meal programs.
Breakfast and lunch meals follow the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) guidelines for healthy school meals.
Contact School Food Service Director Rion Skinner at (803) 739-8381 for additional information.
Parents/Guardians who do not want their child/children to participate in CEP may discuss this matter with Pamela Bienkoski, Food Service Office, on an informal basis.Call at (803) 739-8381.
Parents/Guardians who wish to make a formal appeal may make a request either orally or in writing to Sky Strickland, Chief Financial Officer, 3205 Platt Springs Road, West Columbia, SC 29170. The phone number at the district office to reach her is (803) 796-4708.
__
In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by the USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the state or local agency that administers the program or contact USDA through the Telecommunications Relay Service at 711 (voice and TTY). Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.
To file a program discrimination complaint, a complainant should complete a USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form AD-3027, found online at How to File a Program Discrimination Complaint and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: 1. Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Mail Stop 9410, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or 2. Fax: (202) 690-7442; or 3. Email: program.intake@usda.gov
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
_____
Frequently asked questions about student meals at no cost in Lexington Two for the 2025-2026 school year:
Q: Do I have to fill out an application or paperwork if I want my child to participate?
A: No applications, all students eat for free.
Q: How will this affect SNAP benefits, or any other benefits I may receive?
A: This will have no impact on any other eligibility.
Q: Is 2025-2026 the only school year Lexington Two will participate in CEP?
A: The district’s eligibility is reassessed each year. If the district is eligible once again for the next school year, we will announce it in the summer, before that new school year begins.
Q: Will adults who visit or work at a Lexington Two school be able to get meals at no cost, too?
A: CEP is an extension of the National School Breakfast and Lunch program and is available to students enrolled in the 2025-2026 school year. Adults are welcome to participate, and meal prices will be announced as soon as we receive the information from the SC Department of Education.