The entire student body of Evergreen School District will able to access free breakfast and lunch for the 2014-15 school year under the federally funded Community Eligibility Provision.

The Community Eligibility Provision is a component of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010. Over the past three years, 11 states have piloted the program, which goes nationwide in the 2014-15 school year.

The purpose of the provision is to provide students attending schools that have high populations of low-income families access to two nutritious meals a day without application requirements.

“More than one in five Montana children live in food insecure homes, which we know impacts their success at school and overall health. The school meal programs play a significant role in reducing child hunger,” said Kate Devino, chief policy officer at the Montana Food Bank Network in a press release.

Evergreen was among more than 100 schools eligible for the provision. Schools will be re-certified every four years.

Libby’s elementary and middle school students were also eligible for the provision; however they are choosing not to participate. 

Libby School District Superintendent Craig Barringer said they are in the midst of revamping the district lunch program and constructing a new kitchen, which is slated for completion in October. Barringer said the district might consider participating in the future.

To be eligible, schools must have a minimum of 40 percent of students from low-income families. A student is identified if their family participates in either the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Cash Assistance, Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations and Medicaid. Students who are homeless, runaways, migrants, live in foster care, or participate in Head Start early childhood education programs are also identified.

Participating schools will be reimbursed by federal funds based on the percentage of identified students. 

Evergreen School District Food Service Director Joan Jepsen said 81 percent of meals will be reimbursed at the federal free rate and 18.49 percent at a paid rate. 

Although federal reimbursement rates are not available for the 2014-15 year, Jepsen had reimbursement numbers from last school year. Jepsen said the district was federally reimbursed for free meals at $3.01 per meal. The district had about 73 percent of enrolled students receiving free or reduced meals. The reimbursement rate for paid meals was 34 cents.

Jepsen expects more children will take advantage of the free meals — particularly breakfast — but can’t be sure until school starts. During the 2013-14 school year, Evergreen School District served 37,928 breakfasts and 104,747 lunches.

Another benefit of the provision eliminates administrative paperwork, instead allowing schools to focus on improving the quality of meals and serve them to students who need it the most. 

“It allows us on our end to cut through red tape,” Jepsen said. “We do take considerable time to contact parents, and send home notes to make sure kids who are eligible for free meals received them.”

She added that it eliminates stigmas attached to filling out applications.

“For some parents it’s a major hurdle to fill out an application,” Jepsen said.

Previously, districts such as Evergreen had to process applications from families and determine if a student was eligible for free or reduced-priced meals based on income.

Other area schools close to qualifying for the free meals provision were Olney-Bissell elementary students at 39.39 percent, Russell Elementary at 39.38 percent, Peterson Elementary at 36.08 percent, Kila School (grades 7-8) at 36.36 percent and Elrod Elementary at 35.02 percent.

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or by email at hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.