Many Kentucky families depend on free or reduced-price meals during the school year. When school is out for the summer, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Kentucky Department of Education’s Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) help ensure children continue to receive nutritious meals to bridge the nutrition gap during these months.
At the Education Continuation Task Force’s July 27 meeting, members received an update from Associate Commissioner Rob Akers of the Kentucky Department of Education’s Office of Educator Licensure and Effectiveness, about teacher certification and permission flexibility ahead of the 2020-2021 school year.
During school building closures due to COVID-19, the Summer Food Service Program and the Seamless Summer Option – which are administered by the Kentucky Department of Education – will provide meals at no cost to children 18 and under. This allows children who may face food insecurity to continue receiving meals while schools are not holding in-person classes.
Harry Burchett, superintendent of Harrison County schools, explains how he and his staff handled being the first Kentucky school district to cease in-person classes because of COVID-19.
The Kentucky Department of Education received notification early March 14 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture that it has received approval to extend alternate meal service flexibility to students in the case of extended closures due to COVID-19.
Learn more about the most frequently asked questions about coronavirus (COVID-19) and how it relates to Kentucky's public schools.
In an hour-long phone call with Kentucky superintendents and Kentucky Department of Education leadership on March 11, Gov. Andy Beshear asked education leaders to be prepared to close in response to widespread concern regarding the spread of the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
As the situation around the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) evolves and more cases are discovered across the state, I want you to know that the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) continues to work closely with the Kentucky Department for Public Health (DPH) to provide accurate information so we can strengthen our preparedness and response efforts to our schools and districts.
The 2020 Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) week is scheduled for March 15-21. The program served more than 29 million meals to more than 90,000 participants at nearly 2,000 locations throughout Kentucky last year.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has set the income eligibility guidelines for students and adults to participate in free/reduced-price meal programs through the Child and Adult Care Food Program for 2018-2019.