During COVID, schools received some flexibility which allowed them to serve free meals to all students. Unfortunately, the universal free meal program funded by the USDA was not extended to the 2022-2023 school year. Therefore, IWCS can’t serve all meals free anymore. Instead, families will do what they did before COVID. Schools will take applications and use family income to qualify kids for free or paid meals.
Virginia is utilizing state funds to increase the reimbursement rate of the reduced-price meal category, effectively eliminating the need to charge $0.40 for these lunches. IWCS has always waived the price of breakfast for reduced-price students. Now, for school year 2022-2023, we will be also waiving the price of the reduced-price lunches. Therefore, any applications approved for reduced-price meals will be receiving both breakfast and lunch for free.
IWCS families are encouraged to apply for free meals for 2022-23 using the information on our website at https://www.iwcs.k12.va.us/apps/pages/childnutrition Paper applications are available in all IWCS schools and the School Board Office at 820 West Main St., Smithfield.
Additional information can be found on the on the USDA website at https://www.fns.usda.gov/cn/2022-23-parent-faqs
If you have any questions, or need assistance completing the application, please contact Kevin Criner, Child Nutrition Liaison, at 757-365-1608.