North Penn School District (NPSD) will be continuing their universal free breakfast program for students in the 2022-2023 school year. All NPSD students will be able to receive a free breakfast at the start of the school day.
NPSD had already made plans to cover universal free breakfast for the 2022-2023 school year, as well as free lunch for students who qualify for both free and reduced price meals. The reduced category has been eliminated and those students will also receive lunch at no cost. Funding for this program will now be covered by the Pennsylvania government’s Universal Free Breakfast Program which goes into effect October 1, 2022 and will run through the end of the 2023 school year. More than 1.7 million students across Pennsylvania will benefit from this state-funded program.
“We commend Governor Wolf and the Administration for their dedication to a hunger-free Pennsylvania. Universal free school breakfast across Pennsylvania helps to ensure every student will start their day with a healthy, nutritious meal,” said Melissa Froehlich, NPSD Coordinator of School Nutrition Services and School Nutrition Association of Pennsylvania Communications Chair. “Research supports that a well-nourished child who starts the day with breakfast is more likely to be at school, has improved concentration, and is more willing to participate in the classroom. Universal free breakfast for all students in Pennsylvania will strengthen child nutrition programs and address equity and stigma around school breakfast so that more children will have access to nutritional meals and set our students up for success in the classroom.”
Melissa Froehlich, along with Nicole Melia, Food Service Supervisor of the Great Valley School District, were instrumental in advocating for the Universal Free Breakfast Program. Froehlich and Melia, along with the School Nutrition Association of Pennsylvania worked with Governor Tom Wolf to establish this program following the expiration of waivers from the U.S. Department of Agriculture that covered universal free meals for all students.
NPSD families are encouraged to apply for free/reduced meals for the 2022-2023 school year. Any student who qualifies for reduced price lunch will receive free meals during the 2022-2023 school year, in addition to the universal free breakfast. For more information and to apply, please visit https://www.npenn.org/central_office/school_nutrition_services_department/school_meal_application. Applications are available online in six languages, as well as paper copies that can be found in all school main offices and the Educational Services Center (401 E Hancock St, Lansdale). Please note that families must reapply each year, and last year’s status expires on October 14, 2022.