CRAWFORDVILLE, FL — Wakulla County Schools will continue providing free breakfast and lunch to all students during the 2026–2027 school year following School Board approval to participate in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). This program ensures that every student at every Wakulla County school can receive breakfast and lunch at no cost each school day.
The Community Eligibility Provision is a federal meal service option that allows eligible schools and districts to provide breakfast and lunch to students at no cost, regardless of household income, without collecting individual free and reduced-price meal applications. While CEP provides federal reimbursement for eligible meals, it does not fully cover the cost of universal meals at every school site. Wakulla County Schools uses local support and careful budget planning to fund the remaining costs so all students can continue receiving meals at no charge.
“Our district remains dedicated to prioritizing the programs and services that matter most to our students,” said Superintendent Rick Myhre. “By right sizing our staffing needs and carefully streamlining operational costs, we are able to sustain initiatives like universal breakfast and lunch, ensuring all students have access to nutritious meals each day.”
During the 2025–2026 school year, Wakulla County Schools served 277,210 breakfasts and 522,412 lunches districtwide. Lunch participation increased by 61,631 meals over the previous year, a 13% increase across the district.
Wakulla High School saw especially strong increases after being included in the district’s universal meal effort. Breakfast participation at Wakulla High increased from 16,220 meals in 2024–2025 to 31,090 meals in 2025–2026, while lunch participation increased from 56,634 meals to 90,693 meals.
The district’s continued investment in student nutrition comes as Wakulla County Schools celebrates a historic academic milestone. For the first time in district history, every traditional school in Wakulla County Schools earned an “A” rating, placing the district 8th among Florida’s 67 school districts. Wakulla High School also returned to an “A” rating for the 2025–2026 school year.
While school performance reflects many factors, including effective instruction, student effort, data-driven planning, family support, and the dedication of teachers and staff, Wakulla County Schools recognize that students are better prepared to learn when their basic needs are met. Access to nutritious meals is an important part of creating conditions for academic success.
As the district looks ahead to the 2026–2027 school year, ensuring students have access to meals is still part of the broader work of supporting academic excellence and strengthening the future of Wakulla County Schools.
Families do not need to complete a meal application for students to receive free breakfast and lunch. À la carte items and school store items, where available, may still be offered for optional purchase.
To read the Food Service CEP Grouping Presentation visit: https://aptg.co/KNSklq
To learn more about Wakulla County School Food Services visit: https://www.wakullaschooldistrict.org/page/food-services
About Wakulla County Schools
Wakulla County Schools is committed to cultivating opportunities for all students to become lifelong learners by providing rigorous, relevant, and safe learning environments. Through a continued focus on rigor, resiliency, and relevance, Wakulla County Schools works in partnership with families and the community to support student learning, growth, and success.
###