The Earlimart School District (ESD) recently announced that it will amend its policy to provide free meals to students under the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs.
The National School Lunch Program is a federally funded initiative that partners with educational institutions to provide students with healthy meals at a reduced price.
Axel Kondoh, Chief Business Officer at ESD, noted that this initiative is not new to the district, as it served meals to students before enrolling in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) through the 2021-2022 academic year. Through the CEP, the district is reimbursed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program.
The district has also announced its enrollment in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), which reimburses institutions or day-care agencies for meals and snacks served to those enrolled in the care settings. With this policy, the district aims to reduce the financial burden of paying for school meals. In Earlimart, approximately 21.8 percent of people live below the poverty line, underscoring the program’s critical role in the area.
“Our participation in CEP helps ensure that every student has consistent access to nutritious meals, removes financial barriers for families, and supports an inclusive meal service in which all students can participate,” said Kondoh.
Throughout the state, the California Department of Social Services oversees the initiative. California Education Code (EC) Section 49501.5 mandates that all public school districts serving TK-12 students must provide free breakfast and lunch to all students, regardless of their free or reduced-price meal status.
“The announcement confirms that this practice will continue during the 2026-27 school year and serves as a reminder to our parents and community about this valuable program,” explained Kondoh.
In a report published by the Food Research and Action Center, programs that provide free or reduced meals have helped those facing food insecurity. The report also found that these school meal programs improve learning in the classroom.
“As a student-centered district, we recognize that students are better prepared to learn when their basic needs are met. Providing nutritious breakfast and lunch at no charge is one meaningful way the District supports our students, families, and community while promoting equity and ensuring that no student has to learn while hungry,” wrote Kondoh.
Although the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Program is a federally funded initiative, the Earlimart School District aims to continue providing meals at no cost to enrolled students at the following sites: Allia Elementary School, Earlimart Elementary School, and Earlimart Middle School, for as long as the program continues to operate and the district remains eligible to receive this assistance.
“The District will continue monitoring these while advocating for the resources needed to preserve universal meal access. Our goal remains to remove any barriers as possible and ensure that students receive the nutritious meals they need to arrive in the classroom ready to learn each day,” said Konah.
