All students enrolled in the Chattooga County School District will receive free breakfast and lunch throughout the 2026-2027 school year.

The district will continue participating in the Community Eligibility Provision, commonly known as CEP. The federally supported program, administered through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs, allows eligible school districts to provide meals to every student at no cost.

School officials say access to healthy meals helps students begin the day prepared to learn and removes financial barriers that could prevent some children from receiving breakfast or lunch. Families will not be required to submit a traditional free or reduced-price meal application for their children to participate.

However, the district is asking all families to complete a short and confidential survey that will be sent home at a later date. The information gathered will help the school system determine the amount of additional funding it may receive for educational programs, student services and meal-related initiatives.

Those programs may include the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Grant, after-school snacks and Seamless Summer meal options. District officials say strong participation in the survey is important because incomplete information could limit the school system’s ability to secure and fully use available resources.

The district says providing free meals to every student also helps reduce the stigma sometimes associated with meal assistance programs and ensures that no child is singled out because of a family’s financial situation.

Parents or guardians who need additional information may contact the Chattooga County School Nutrition Department at 706-859-3054.