Several Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) students will receive free breakfast again this school year as part of funding provided by the Maryland Meals for Achievement program.

Known as MMFA, the program is offered through the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) and provides funding that supplements federal reimbursements CCPS receives from the USDA School Breakfast Program.

The MMFA program provides students with access to a healthy breakfast each morning at school. Last year, 30 schools received free breakfasts. This year, the number has increased by two, bringing the total up to 32 schools. The Early Learning Center, Waldorf, and the Phoenix International School of the Arts (PISOTA) have been added this year.

“This program increases students access to and participation in breakfast,” Crystal Richardson, CCPS supervisor of food and nutrition services, said.

According to “The effects of breakfast on behavior and academic performance in children and adolescents,” a report published at the National Library of Medicine, part of the National Institutes of Health, eating breakfast may positively affect learning in children in terms of behavior, and cognitive and school performance. Studies generally find that eating breakfast has a positive effect on children's cognitive performance, especially memory and attention, according to the report.

Schools are eligible for the program if the percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price meals is above 40%. Eligibility is based on counts from the previous school year.

MSDE must approve all MMFA participating schools in advance. Schools listed below with (CEP) next to the name are also providing free lunches to students this year through a federal grant program called Community Eligibility Provision, also known as CEP. To learn about CEP, visit https://www.fns.usda.gov/cn/community-eligibility-provision.

The MMFA program does not provide for free lunches for students. However, students who attend schools that are designated as both an MMFA and CEP school receive free breakfast and lunch.

All CCPS families should complete the free and reduced-price meal application, regardless of a family’s income and whether a child attends a school that has the MMFA/CEP programs. The application may garner other benefits for students such as reduced testing fees for student exams and discounts on internet service. To view the application, visit https://www.myschoolapps.com/.

Students who attend the following schools can eat breakfast free for the entire school year.

Elementary Schools

• C. Paul Barnhart Elementary School.
• Berry Elementary School.
• Billingsley Elementary School.
• Dr. Gustavus Brown Elementary School (CEP).
• Gale-Bailey Elementary School.
• Dr. Thomas L. Higdon Elementary School.
• Indian Head Elementary School (CEP).
• Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer Elementary School (CEP).
• Malcolm Elementary School.
• Arthur Middleton Elementary School (CEP).
• Mt. Hope/Nanjemoy Elementary School (CEP).
• Dr. Samuel A. Mudd Elementary School (CEP).
• Mary B. Neal Elementary School.
• J.C. Parks Elementary School.
• J.P. Ryon Elementary School (CEP).
• Eva Turner Elementary School (CEP).
• William B. Wade Elementary School.

Middle Schools

• Theodore G. Davis Middle School.
• John Hanson Middle School (CEP).
• Glymont Middle School (CEP).
• Matthew Henson Middle School.
• Mattawoman Middle School.
• Phoenix International School of the Arts (PISOTA).
• Benjamin Stoddert Middle School (CEP).

High Schools

• Henry E. Lackey High School.
• St. Charles High School.
• Thomas Stone High School (CEP).
• Westlake High School.

Centers

• Early Learning Center, La Plata.
• Early Learning Center, Waldorf.
• F.B. Gwynn Educational Center.
• Robert D. Stethem Educational Center.

CCPS posts breakfast and lunch menus on the school system website at www.ccboe.com. Parents can create an account to follow the menus posted for their child’s specific schools.

For questions about the CCPS Food and Nutrition Services program, call 301-392-5570.

About CCPS

Charles County Public Schools provides 28,162 students in grades prekindergarten through 12 with an academically challenging education. Located in Southern Maryland, Charles County Public Schools has 38 schools that offer a technologically advanced, progressive and high quality education that builds character, equips for leadership and prepares students for life, careers and higher education.

The Charles County public school system does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age or disability in its programs, activities or employment practices. For inquiries, please contact Dr. Mike Blanchard, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (students) or Nikial M. Majors, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (employees/ adults), at Charles County Public Schools, Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building, P.O. Box 2770, La Plata, MD 20646; 301-932-6610/301-870-3814. For special accommodations call 301-934-7230 or TDD 1-800-735-2258 two weeks prior to the event.  CCPS provides nondiscriminatory equal access to school facilities in accordance with its Use of Facilities rules to designated youth groups (including, but not limited to, the Boy Scouts).

About USDA

In accordance with federal civil rights law and USDA civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its agencies, offices, employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the state or local agency that administers the program or contact USDA through the Telecommunications Relay Service at 711 (voice and TTY). Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at How to File a Program Discrimination Complaint and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: 

1. Mail: USDA Food and Nutrition Service, 1320 Braddock Place, Room 334 Alexandria, VA 22314; or
2. Email: FNSCIVILRIGHTSCOMPLAINTS@usda.gov.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

In accordance with federal civil rights law and USDA civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its agencies, offices, employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the state or local agency that administers the program or contact USDA through the Telecommunications Relay Service at 711 (voice and TTY). Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at How to File a Program Discrimination Complaint and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:

1. Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Mail Stop 9410, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;
2. Fax: (202) 690-7442; or
3. Email: program.intake@usda.gov.