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Middletown Public Schools

Middletown Public Schools cultivates the brilliance in each student.

Food, Nutrition and Wellness Services Home

Food, Nutrition and Wellness Services

Middletown Public Schools offers free meals for all students throughout the 2025-2026 school year.

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Middletown Public Schools proudly operates its own Food and Nutrition Services department, instead of contracting with an outside food service company. This internal structure allows for us to be responsive to the needs of our students and families.

Questions? Ideas? Email us at food-nutrition@mpsct.org

Free School Meals for All MPS Students during the 2025-2026 school year. Scroll down to learn more.

 

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Department Monthly Newsletter

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Payment Options

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My School Bucks Account

 

For the 2025-2026 school year, all students throughout Middletown Public Schools will receive free meals. Students do not need money on their MySchoolBucks Account; they would ONLY need money in the account if they want to purchase snacks or additional meals.

Meal Account Prepayment Information
Parents/Guardians may PREPAY for all school meals at any Middletown Public School. 
Two prepayment options: 

  1. Send cash or a check to your student(s) school (no associated fee) or

  2. Pay on-line at MySchoolBucks.com (small processing fee)

The logo for 'My School Bucks' is displayed in white text on a vibrant blue background.

Free Breakfast & Free Lunch

Middletown Public Schools is proud to provide all its students (K-12) with FREE breakfast and FREE lunch during the 2025-2026 school year. 

We are happy to provide free meals for all students through participation in the Community Eligibility Provisions (CEP) of the National School Lunch Program for school year 2025-2026. We look forward to serving nutritious and delicious meals to all of our students throughout the upcoming school year. Learn more about the CEP here.

CEP Notification Letters for Families 2025-2026:

Middletown Public Schools offers free meals for all students throughout the 2025-2026 school year.

Farm to School in Middletown Public Schools

Middletown Public Schools promotes supporting locally grown and sourced products in a variety of ways. See how we are elevating our Child Nutrition Programs below:

Our Farm to School Team:

Farm to School Coordinator: Micayla Gervais

Farm to School Culinary Coordinator: Jennifer Krapf

Our Farm to School Work

Eat Real Certification Process

Middletown Public Schools will be the first district in New England to earn Eat Real Certification, a recognition for excellence in healthy, sustainable school meals. The certification evaluates 10 evidence-based standards and 34 key performance indicators across menu planning and procurement practices to ensure nutritious, locally sourced, and environmentally responsible meals.

See the 10 Eat Real Standards that MPS is achieving!

Infographic detailing 10 evidence-based standards for healthy eating, with icons and text.

Healthy Foods in Schools and Wellness Policy

Connecticut Nutrition Standards: The Connecticut State Department of Education requires all School Food Authorities (SFA's) to adhere to strict nutrition guidelines that exceed the requirements of the USDA. Middletown Public Schools is proud to meet or exceed all of the Connecticut Nutrition Standards which can be found here.

Request to Serve Outside Food: If you are a staff member or parent looking to serve food to students from outside the School's Cafeteria please complete the form here. Check out our information on Creating a Healthy School Environment under our Food and Nutrition Information section below which includes resources on Non-Food Celebrations, Fundraisers and Healthy Celebrations.

Our Goals

 

  • Composting in all Schools and Cafeterias by School Year 2025
  • 25% Plant Based Foods by School Year 2027
  • 75% Scratch Cooking Recipes by School Year 2028
  • 50% Reduction of added sugars, sodium and overly processed foods by School Year 2028
  • 85% Reusable serving ware by School Year 2029
  • School Gardens and Hydroponics in all Schools by School Year 2028
  • 30% Local Food Purchasing by School Year 2028

 

Elevate! and Weekend Backpack Program (Free weekend food)

Middletown Public Schools partners with the Amazing Grace Cost Free Community Market to provide free food for students for the weekend:

What do we offer?:

All free food offered in our weekend food program is reviewed by our Director of Food, Nutrition and Wellness Services as well as a team of dietetic students to ensure items offered meet the Connecticut Nutrition Standards.

Items include protein offerings, fresh produce and some snack foods for students to enjoy

How can students participate in the program?

 

  • Elementary Schools: Please contact your school's main office for information on how your student can receive free food for the weekend. Pre-bagged free food is distributed on the last day of the school week throughout the school year.
  • Beman Middle School: Please contact your school administrator for details
  • Middletown High: Please contact your school administrator for details

Food & Nutrition Information & Documents

  • Core Purpose: Well-nourished students are prepared to succeed.

    Mission: We empower and support one another in advancing accessibility, quality and program integrity.

    Vision: Every student has access to nutritious meals at school, ensuring their optimal health and well being to ensure we are Cultivating the brilliance in each student.

    Core Values:

    • Integrity: Act ethically responsible, always.
    • Inclusion: Embrace different perspectives and ideas.
    • Collaboration: Share strategies and solutions.
    • Commitment: Embody Care and comparison for student well-being.
    • Innovation: Drive change with creativity and strategic thinking.
    • Courage: Resolve to protect and defend child nutrition programs.
  • U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA): English

    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/ad-3027.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.

     

    USDA: Spanish

    De conformidad con la Ley Federal de Derechos Civiles y los reglamentos y políticas de derechos civiles del Departamento de Agricultura de los EE. UU. (USDA, por sus siglas en inglés), se prohíbe que el USDA, sus agencias, oficinas, empleados e instituciones que participan o administran programas del USDA discriminen sobre la base de raza, color, nacionalidad, sexo, discapacidad, edad, o en represalia o venganza por actividades previas de derechos civiles en algún programa o actividad realizados o financiados por el USDA. 


    Las personas con discapacidades que necesiten medios alternativos para la comunicación de la información del programa (por ejemplo, sistema Braille, letras grandes, cintas de audio, lenguaje de señas americano, etc.), deben ponerse en contacto con la agencia (estatal o local) en la que solicitaron los beneficios. Las personas sordas, con dificultades de audición o discapacidades del habla pueden comunicarse con el USDA por medio del Federal Relay Service [Servicio Federal de Retransmisión] al (800) 877-8339. Además, la información del programa se puede proporcionar en otros idiomas.

    Para presentar una denuncia de discriminación, complete el Formulario de Denuncia de Discriminación del Programa del USDA, (AD-3027) que está disponible en línea en: How to File A Complaint y en cualquier oficina del USDA, o bien escriba una carta dirigida al USDA e incluya en la carta toda la información solicitada en el formulario. Para solicitar una copia del formulario de denuncia, llame al (866) 632-9992. Haga llegar su formulario lleno o carta al USDA por: 

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

    Esta institución es un proveedor que ofrece igualdad de oportunidades.

  • The Connecticut State Department of Education is committed to a policy of equal opportunity/affirmative action for all qualified persons. The Connecticut Department of Education does not discriminate in any employment practice, education program, or educational activity on the basis of age, ancestry, color, criminal record (in state employment and licensing), gender identity or expression, genetic information, intellectual disability, learning disability, marital status, mental disability (past or present), national origin, physical disability (including blindness), race, religious creed, retaliation for previously opposed discrimination or coercion, sex (pregnancy or sexual harassment), sexual orientation, veteran status or workplace hazards to reproductive systems, unless there is a bona fide occupational qualification excluding persons in any of the aforementioned protected classes.

    Inquiries regarding the Connecticut State Department of Education’s nondiscrimination policies should be directed to: Levy Gillespie, Equal Employment Opportunity Director/Americans with Disabilities Coordinator (ADA), Connecticut State Department of Education, 450 Columbus Boulevard, Suite 505, Hartford, CT 06103, 860-807-2071,levy.gillespie@ct.gov.

Office of Food, Nutrition and Wellness Services

Middletown Public Schools
Office of Food, Nutrition and Wellness Services
Office Email: food-nutrition@mpsct.org

 

Central Office - Annex B
372 Hunting Hill Avenue
Middletown, CT 06457
Phone: (860) 704-4519