RICHMOND, VA (March 12, 2026) – Virginia lawmakers highlighted the state’s success with the Community Eligibility Provision during the House floor session on Thursday, March 12th.
House Joint Resolution No. 267 was introduced in the Virginia General Assembly by Delegate Cia Price.
The meal service option, commonly known as CEP, allows eligible schools to serve no-cost breakfast and lunch to all students without collecting household income applications. More than 1,200 Virginia schools within 116 school divisions currently participate in CEP, helping increase free meal access for over 708,000 students.
By decreasing stigma and eliminating paperwork burdens for busy families, schools that participate in CEP are associated with meaningful increases in school meals participation. Research shows that students who participate in school meals can have positive diet-related outcomes, see new academic growth and experience reduced hunger, especially among learners living in households that are navigating income insecurity.
CEP enrollment for schools and divisions takes place May 1–June 30. No Kid Hungry encourages all eligible school divisions to maintain or expand their CEP enrollment for the 2026–2027 school year.
