Schools
Ridgefield K-8 Students Will Start School Year With Free Lunches
The CT State Department of Education has allocated an estimated $436,864 to the Ridgefield Public Schools as part of a federal grant.
RIDGEFIELD, CT — Maybe there is such a thing as a free lunch, after all.
The Connecticut State Department of Education has allocated an estimated $436,864 to the Ridgefield Public Schools as part of a federal Free School Meals for Children grant.
The funding will support free lunches for all students in grades K-8 until funds are depleted, according to a letter from RPS finance director Jill Browne. Eligible schools are those which took part in the National School Lunch Program in 2022-23. The high school is not eligible to receive free meals in the coming school year.
The funding is meant to assist households through School Food Authorities continuing to provide school meals at no cost to students for as long as possible in school year 2022-23, as they transition back to operating the National School Lunch Program. Ridgefield public schools will continue to collect Free & Reduced Lunch applications during this extended time period to ease the transition back to pre-pandemic meal service operations, Browne said.
School officials have not provided an estimate of when the funds will dry up. Browne said RPS will "work closely with our Food Service Management Company to monitor meal counts and CSDE reimbursements to allow for ample time to communicate with families regarding the program's end.
