Irwin County School District has participated in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) for Free Meal Reimbursement at Irwin County Elementary School since School Year 2015-2016 and at  Irwin County Middle/High School since School Year 2016-2017.  Through CEP, a school district, a group of schools or a single school may offer meals at no charge to all students. This eliminates the procedure of distributing and processing meal applications.

The Healthy, Hunger Free Kids Act of 2010 includes the implementation of CEP to insure that every student in low-income neighborhoods and/or districts can participate in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP).  To qualify, a district or school must have 25 percent or more of its students eligible for free meals based on direct certification.

By participating in CEP and eliminating the need for meal applications, Irwin County School District reduces administrative and printing costs.  Families also benefit from the elimination of completing and submitting meal applications. 

CEP has been available to the entire country since School Year 2015.