LEWES, Del. — Starting this school year and continuing through 2028-29, Cape Henlopen School District will offer free breakfast and lunch to every student, thanks to updated federal guidelines and expanded state data. The district qualified under the Community Eligibility Provision, a USDA program that allows entire schools or districts to serve no-cost meals if a sufficient portion of their student body is eligible for assistance programs. Delaware’s Department of Education recently added Medicaid records to its certification process, pushing Cape Henlopen’s eligible student count above the newly lowered 25 percent threshold. Previously, the district fell short, with about 20.7 percent of students qualifying as of April 2024. But the inclusion of Medicaid data in 2025 increased that number significantly, opening the door for full program participation. This change removes the need for families to fill out free or reduced-price meal forms, a process that previously saw less than 20 percent compliance and resulted in over $55,000 of unpaid school meal charges. Officials emphasize that higher state reimbursements tied to this program will enable schools to enhance meal quality, particularly by increasing fresh fruit and vegetable offerings. The Cape Henlopen Board of Education received an update on the program last week, with further details to be communicated to parents before school begins. More information about the Community Eligibility Provision is available at www.fns.usda.gov.
