Back-to-School: Apply for School Meal Benefits the Easy Way
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BACK TO SCHOOL, BACK TO THE FUTURE: Broward Families Prepare for a New School Year
As students return to classrooms, Black families are watching closely as the district navigates enrollment, school funding, career opportunities and access to nutritious meals.
BROWARD COUNTY, FL. — The school bells are about to ring again.
Across Broward County, families are preparing for the return of a new school year Monday, as students head back to classrooms and educators get ready to begin another year of teaching, learning and opportunity.
For Broward’s African American community, the start of school is more than a seasonal tradition. It is a moment to consider whether every child has access to the quality education, resources and opportunities needed to build a successful future.
Broward County Public Schools Superintendent Howard Hepburn says the district is ready.
“We’re excited to welcome all our students back,” Hepburn said. “Our teachers are already back. They’re preparing classrooms and readying themselves to welcome their students.”
ENROLLMENT AND FUNDING REMAIN ON THE RADAR
The district continues to face declining student enrollment, a trend that can affect school funding and the resources available to individual campuses.
That makes student recruitment, retention and academic programming increasingly important as Broward schools compete for families and work to demonstrate the value of a public education.
Among the programs drawing attention are specialized career and technical opportunities, including the space and aviation technology program at Miramar High School.
For Black families, programs that expose students to STEM, aviation and other high-growth career fields can represent an important pathway toward college, technical training and future employment.
The larger question for the community is whether these opportunities will remain accessible and visible to students from every neighborhood.
FOOD ACCESS MATTERS
While academic opportunities remain a priority, families are also dealing with the everyday realities that can affect a child’s ability to learn including access to food.
Nearly 150 Broward County schools qualify to provide free meals, while families at other schools can apply for reduced-price lunches.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, federal grant funding allowed the district to provide free meals to all students. That funding has now declined.
“We had a surplus amount of money because of grants we received from COVID, and then we were able to have all of our students eat for free,” said Elizabeth Seeley with Broward County Public Schools. “But that surplus is now down.”
Lunch prices will increase by $1 across all grade levels. Breakfast will continue to be free for all students.
District officials say they are also focused on providing students with a variety of meal choices.
“We are a very large district, and we have a lot of students, and all of them have different likes and dislikes and we want to be sure we’re offering a wide variety,” Seeley said
