The entire student body of many schools in Flathead, Lake and Lincoln County school districts will be able to access free breakfast and lunch for the 2024-25 school year under the federally funded Community Eligibility Provision. 

Families do not need to sign up or fill out paperwork to participate. 

The following are the participating school districts in Flathead and Lincoln counties. All schools within these districts will serve free meals. 

Columbia Falls School District, Eureka School District, Evergreen School District, Fortine School District, Fair-Mont-Egan School District, Helena Flats School District, Smith Valley School District, Kalispell Public Schools, Marion School District, Polson School District, Ronan School District, Swan River School District and Troy School District. 

The Community Eligibility Provision is a component of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010. The provision serves high-poverty schools and districts. To be eligible, a minimum of 40% of a school’s student population must be from low-income families. 

A student is identified as low-income if their family participates in any of the following programs: Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Cash Assistance or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations. Students are also identified if they live in foster care, are homeless, runaways or migrants, or participate in Head Start early childhood education programs.

The provision intends to increase student participation and access to nutritious meals improve student learning and eliminate social stigma, unpaid meal balances and paperwork for families and school staff. 

Participating schools will be reimbursed by federal funds based on the percentage of identified students. Schools will be re-certified every four years. 

“These precious federal tax dollars provide nutritious meals to our children during the school day,” Office of Public Instruction Superintendent Elsie Arntzen said. “During the 2022-2023 school year, nearly 40% of Montana students qualified for the free and reduced-price price meal program. Thank you to all of our Montana school nutrition specialists for putting Montana student’s nutrition first.” 

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