Canton Public School District encourages families to complete meal applications

Special to The Canton News

As students prepare to return to school in August, the Canton Public School District is encouraging all parents and guardians to complete the district's meal application forms to help ensure the continuation of free school meals.

Students will receive breakfast and lunch at no cost to families when school begins in August. However, beginning in September, the district's ability to continue offering free meals will depend on the number of completed meal eligibility forms submitted by families.

District officials said at least 70% of families must complete the forms for the district to qualify for the level of federal reimbursement needed to sustain the program.

If the district does not meet the 70% threshold, students will still be able to eat at no cost to their families. However, the district would not receive full federal reimbursement for students who would otherwise qualify for paid or reduced-price meals. As a result, the Canton Public School District could be responsible for covering those costs at the end of the school year.

School officials are asking all parents and guardians to complete and return the meal application forms as soon as possible, regardless of income, to help protect funding and ensure the district can continue providing free meals to all students.