Proposed federal cuts would prevent 27,000 Henrico students from accessing free lunch program

A proposal introduced in the U.S. Congress would prevent over 12 million students across the country from accessing a federal free school lunch program, including 27,130 students in Henrico Schools.

The $12 billion in cuts proposed by House Budget Committee Chair Jodey Arrington (R-Texas) would reduce the number of schools eligible for the Community Eligibility Provision program, which allows schools serving large numbers of low-income students to offer free meals schoolwide. 

The proposal would axe 43 of Henrico’s 49 CEP schools from the program – the highest number of schools to be impacted in any Virginia school district. A total of 784 schools in Virginia would lose access to the program, including 40 in Chesterfield (36,234 students), three in Hanover (1,302 students), and two schools in Richmond (1,380 students).

Henrico Schools leaders are currently monitoring federal proposals that could impact Henrico students, according to HCPS spokesperson Ken Blackstone.

“We are keeping an eye on what’s happening at the federal level and will be poised to respond if needed,” he said.

Proposed changes to CEP eligibility would require schools to have 60% or more of students be low-income to be able to offer free meals schoolwide, rather than the current 25% threshold. A recent study by the Food Research & Action Center and the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities found that the proposal would cut more than half of participating schools nationwide from the program, impacting about 451,000 students in Virginia. 

“Proposed cuts to school meals would worsen childhood hunger, hurt struggling families, and create unnecessary burdens for 784 schools in Virginia,” the study reads. “These schools would be mired in unnecessary paperwork and children in low-income families would likely miss out on meals, jeopardizing their health and learning.” 

HCPS currently has 49 schools covered under the CEP program:

CEP elementary schools include: Jacob Adams, Arthur Ashe, George Baker, Ruby Carver, Chamberlayne, Crestview, Davis, Cashell Donahoe, Dumbarton, Fair Oaks, Glen Lea, Greenwood, Harvie, Highland Springs, Elizabeth Holladay, Charles Johnson, Laburnum, Lakeside, R.C. Longan, Longdale, Maybeury, Anthony Mehfoud, Montrose, Pinchbeck, Harold Ratcliffe, Ridge, Sandston, Seven Pines, Skipwith, Springfield Park, Three Chopt, Maude Trevvett, Varina, and Henry Ward elementary schools.

CEP middle schools include: Brookland, Elko, Fairfield, Hungary Creek, Quioccasin, John Rolfe, Tuckahoe and L. Douglas Wilder middle schools.

CEP high schools include: CodeRVA, Henrico, Hermitage, Highland Springs, J.R. Tucker, Varina and the Campus of Virginia Randolph.

Other HCPS schools offer free or reduced-price meals to eligible students after their families complete an annual application. Eligibility is determined by household size and income or  whether a family receives benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families.

Henrico Schools bracing for other federal cuts

HCPS’ Title I funds – federal aid to schools with high percentages of students from low-income families – are set to decrease this year, according to HCPS Chief Financial Officer John Wack, but HCPS will be able to use $1 million in local funds to ensure that services remain the same.

The division holds back some funding in reserves each year to account for any fluctuations in federal funds, since federal funding can increase or decrease year to year, according to HCPS Superintendent Amy Cashwell. 

HCPS has 22 schools that currently receive Title I funding. The federal funding is used to provide these schools with reading and math coaches, tutoring, instructional materials, summer programs, take-home libraries, staff professional development, and family engagement opportunities.

HCPS also has shifted local funding to cover additional staff positions, new programs, and stipend increases that were previously covered by federal covid relief grants – the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund grants – that expired last year. 

About 7% of Henrico Schools’ budget last year came from federal grants and programs, with about $24 million in federal funding going to school lunch and breakfast packages, $13.5 million in Title IV funding – which goes towards exceptional education programs – and another $13.5 million in Title I funding. 

Liana Hardy is the Citizen’s Report for America Corps member and education reporter. Her position is dependent upon reader support; make a tax-deductible contribution to the Citizen through RFA here.