ALACHUA COUNTY, FL (352today.com) – Alachua County Public Schools has released a list of 23 local schools–including some charter schools–that have been designated as Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) sites, meaning they can offer students free breakfast and lunch, regardless of family household income and without having to file an application.

CEP is a federally funded initiative within the National School Lunch and School Breakfast programs aimed at increasing access to nutritional meals for students in financially unstable communities while cutting through the bureaucratic red tape associated with federal assistance programs.

Alachua County CEP site schools:

  • A Quinn Jones
  • Alachua Elementary
  • Archer Elementary
  • Caring and Sharing Center
  • Duval Early Learning
  • Eastside High
  • Hawthorne Middle/High
  • Idylwild Elementary
  • Irby Elementary
  • Lake Forest Elementary
  • Lincoln Middle
  • Mebane Middle
  • Metcalfe Elementary
  • N. Central Florida Charter
  • Norton Elementary
  • One Room Charter
  • Rawlings Elementary
  • Resilience Center
  • Shell Elementary
  • SIATech Charter
  • Sidney Lanier
  • Terwilliger Elementary
  • Williams Elementary

The families with students at Alachua County Public Schools institutions not designated as CEP sites will need to meet income guidelines and complete applications in order for their kids to qualify for free or reduced-price lunches.

Alachua County’s non-CEP public schools:

  • Bishop Middle
  • Boulware Springs
  • Buchholz High
  • Parker Elementary
  • Chiles Elementary
  • Einstein School
  • Expressions Learning Arts Academy
  • Ft. Clarke Middle
  • Gainesville High
  • Glen Springs Elementary
  • Healthy Learning Academy
  • Littlewood Elementary
  • Hidden Oak Elementary
  • High Springs Community
  • Kanapaha Middle
  • Newberry Community School
  • Meadowbrook Elementary
  • Micanopy Academy
  • Newberry High
  • Micanopy K-8
  • PAM@Loften High
  • PK Younge Develpmental
  • Santa Fe High
  • Santa Fe College Academy of Science & Technology
  • Talbot Elementary
  • Westwood Middle
  • Wiles Elementary

More information and an online application are available on the district’s Food and Nutrition Services website at yourchoicefresh.com. Hard copies of the online meal application are also available at the affected schools.

Families needing more information can call 352-955-7539, extension 1569.