Public Release SY26-27

Public Media Release

Northampton Public Schools
Offers Meals at No Cost for Students

Dear Northampton Families, 

The Northampton Public Schools Nutrition Department, affectionately known as Freshampton, is dedicated to  providing delicious and nutritious meals to every student in the district. Our mission is to integrate fresh, local ingredients and truly utilize student voice and choice in shaping our meal options. 

We are proud to offer breakfast and lunch at NO COST to every student, every school day, in the 2026-2027  school year! We're able to do this through our participation in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). CEP  is an innovative program that allows schools to serve free meals to all students, significantly reducing the  administrative burden of collecting individual paper applications for Free and Reduced Price Meals. While we no longer require these applications, we will continue to conduct direct certification regularly throughout the  school year. 

Important Information About Direct Certification 

Initial notices regarding Direct Certification qualifications have been emailed and/or mailed to eligible families. We strongly encourage you to keep this document, as direct certification eligibility can provide additional district benefits for your student. These benefits may include, but are not limited to, fee waivers or reduced fees for programs such as school bus ridership, athletic fees, field trip costs, Chromebook protection,  preschool fees, and after-school programming. 

Where to Find More Information 

Stay connected with Freshampton! We frequently update our: 

∙ Website: web address for School Nutrition Department 

∙ Social Media: Follow us on Instagram and Facebook: #eatfreshampton 

∙ ParentSquare: For important announcements and updates 

On these platforms, you'll discover exciting new local items, see what we're taste-testing with students, find important program information, and access to our monthly menus. 

The Freshampton Team is incredibly grateful for the opportunity to provide nourishing and healthy meals to all our students. 

Non-Discrimination Statement: 
In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.
 
Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.
 
To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USDA-OASCR%20P-Complaint-Form-0508-0002-508-11-28-17Fax2Mail.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:
 

1. mail:
    U.S. Department of Agriculture
    Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
    1400 Independence Avenue, SW
    Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or
2. fax:
    (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
3. email:
    program.intake@usda.gov

 
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Paper applications for free and reduced lunch are no longer needed. 

All six Northampton Public Schools are CEP Schools (Community Eligibility Provision)

Effective October 26, 2023 the USDA amended the rules for CEP. This final rule amends the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) regulations by lowering the minimum identified student percentage (ISP) from 40 percent to 25 percent. Lowering the minimum ISP will give states and schools greater flexibility to offer meals to all enrolled students at no cost when financially viable. As a result of this rule, more schools are eligible to participate in CEP and experience the associated benefits, such as increasing students’ access to healthy, no-cost school meals; eliminating unpaid meal charges; reducing stigma; and streamlining program administration and meal service operations.

Community Eligibility Provision is an innovative provision that allows schools to serve free meals to all students while alleviating the administrative burden of collecting paper applications. Community eligibility allows for a healthier student body and a healthier school meal budget.

More information is available from the USDA.

More information is available from DESE.

If you choose not to have your Free or Reduced Status shared with your child’s school, please print, sign, and return this form.

School Year 2026-2027 Sharing Opt Out Form