CRAWFORDVILLE, FL (WTXL) -- A bill being considered by Congress is threatening to cut school meal programs at 276 schools in Florida, including schools in Jackson, Liberty, Madison, Taylor and Wakulla counties.
For nearly 600 students at Crawfordville Elementary School in Wakulla County, it's been the first year where breakfast and lunch are free.
"Our plate participation has gone up incredibly," said superintendent Bobby Pearce.
Thanks to a federal program called the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), certain districts qualify for free meals based on family income.
"It takes off the table the concern over whether or not our students are receiving a balanced breakfast and a balanced lunch each day," Pearce said.
But Congress could take a bite out of the district's eligibility -- if a bill passes, requiring the percentage of eligible students to be 60 instead of 40.
"It would probably eliminate a significant number of other schools, along with our district, from the program," Pearce said.
The program isn't just feeding students. It's saving local taxpayers significant money. The school district estimates nearly $200,000 has been saved -- just this year alone.
"All of our Pre-K through 5th grade students' parents have now been able to take that out of their budget and use that money in a different way for their family," Pearce said.
The district has been approved for the program next school year, but if the bill passes, the 2017-18 school year would be affected.
"Make contact with your local senators and congressmen from Washington and make sure that they know that they're aware of what they're looking at and how this will impact their community," Pearce said.
In Florida, 24 percent of children live in poverty and over 1.2 million children are on food assistance, according to the National Center for Children in Poverty.
