The Board of Education of Anne Arundel County today voted to keep school breakfast and lunch prices the same for the coming school year, marking the third consecutive year that prices will remain stable.
School breakfasts will cost $1.35 next year, with lunches at elementary and secondary schools costing $2.60 and $2.85, respectively. At all schools, reduced-price breakfast will be 30 cents and reduced-price lunch will be 40 cents. The cost of milk will remain 55 cents per bottle. Students who wish to receive free or reduced price meals must submit a new Meal Benefit Application for approval next fall.
To make meal purchases faster and easier, AACPS continues to utilize an enhanced computer system called MyPaymentsPlus. Students whose parents deposit money into an account can use their six-digit student identification number to purchase meals and a la carte items. Parents can register to receive emails when balances are low, and can monitor the purchases made by their children.
This year, AACPS will serve nearly 5 million lunches and 2.2 million breakfasts in schools. The system receives no county funds to operate lunch and breakfast programs. Revenue for the program comes from federal reimbursements (51 percent), food sales (46 percent), and state funding (3 percent).
In addition to breakfast and lunch, AACPS offers a variety of programs to help foster healthy students, cultivate community wellness, and aid in closing the achievement gap. These include Maryland Meals for Achievement (31 schools), the At-Risk Dinner Program (13 schools), Breakfast With Class (eight schools), the Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Program (six schools), and the Summer Meals Program (46 schools).