31,000 Greenville children could risk food insecurity soon

200,000+ SC students could risk food insecurity if Congress cuts meal program funds

According to the Food Research and Action Center, 31,355 in Greenville County will lose access to CEP if Congress increases the eligibility threshold from 25% to 60% of students identified as receiving benefits.

Proposed federal cuts threaten free school meals for many Greenville children, and 246,000 in South Carolina.

House Budget Committee Chair Jodey Arlington has proposed cutting $12 billion to school meal programs across U.S. school districts.

The proposal is a threat to the USDA's Community Eligibility Provision program (CEP), a non-pricing meal service option for schools and school districts in low-income areas.

In Spartanburg District 06 alone, 11,848 children will be impacted.

Nationwide, this drop in percentage will cut over 24,000 schools from participating in the program, affecting the health and learning of over 12 million children.

Here's what to know about CEP and how the proposal will increase hardships for children and families in South Carolina.

What is CEP, and how does it help childhood hunger?

The CEP allows the nation's highest poverty schools and districts to serve breakfast and lunch for free to enrolled students without collecting household applications, per the USDA's Food and Nutrition Service. Schools that adopt the program are reimbursed using a formula based on the percentage of students categorically eligible for free meals based on their participation in other specific mean-tested programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families.

How will SC children and families be impacted by Congress' proposal?

S.C. children and families will be greatly impacted by proposal cuts to school meals. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and Food Research and Action Center, 351 schools in the state would no longer receive free school meals through CEP and would have to reinstate meal applications, affecting 31 school districts. There are 246,009 children who attend schools that will no longer be able to offer free meals to all students through CEP.

"Rather than reducing access to school meals, Congress should invest in CEP and reduce barriers to applying for free or reduced-price school meals, so families can afford groceries and children have access to the nutritious meals they need to thrive in school and beyond," both centers said in the state-by-state CEP fact sheet.

SC Children and schools to be impacted per school district

∎ Aiken County: 9 schools, 6,460 children impacted

∎ Anderson 01: 5 schools, 3,328 children impacted

∎ Anderson 02: 7 schools, 3,529 children impacted

∎ Anderson 04: 6 schools, 3,054 children impacted

∎ Anderson 05: 3 schools, 3,869 children impacted

∎ Beaufort County: 21 schools, 10,936 children impacted

∎ Chabad Academy: 1 school, 127 children impacted

∎ Charleston County: 65 schools, 32,886 children impacted

∎ Cherokee County Charter School: 1 school, 477 children impacted

∎ Dorchester 02: 7 schools, 6,069 children impacted

∎ Edgefield County: 2 schools, 1,486 children impacted

∎ Greenville County: 30 schools, 31,355 children impacted

∎ Greenwood 52: 4 schools, 1,544 children impacted

∎ High Point Academy, Inc. Charter School: 1 school, 1,205 children impacted

∎ Horry County: 53 schools, 46,983 children impacted

∎ Kershaw County: 16 schools, 11,021 children impacted

∎ Lead Academy Charter School: 1 school, 363 children impacted

∎ Lexington 05: 7 schools, 4,918 children impacted

∎ Liberty Steam Charter School: 1 school, 315 children impacted

∎ Midlands STEM Institute: 1 school, 210 children impacted

∎ Oconee County: 13 schools, 7,253 children impacted

∎ Pickens County: 23 schools, 15,644 children impacted

∎ Richland 02: 5 schools, 5,657 children impacted

∎ Spartanburg 01: 10 schools, 5,420 children impacted

∎ Spartanburg 02: 5 schools, 2,756 children impacted

∎ Spartanburg 03: 5 schools, 2,848 children impacted

∎ Spartanburg 05: 5 schools, 4,019 children impacted

∎ Spartanburg 06: 15 schools, 11,848 children impacted

∎ Virtus Academy of South Carolina: 1 school, 599 children impacted

∎ York 01-York: 9 schools, 5,084 children impacted

∎ York 03-Rock Hill: 19 schools, 14,926 children impacted