Overview

School Nutrition Programs | Program Guidance | Forms | Resources | Nutrition Education

The CEP provides an alternative approach for offering school meals in local educational agencies (LEAs) and schools in low-income areas, instead of collecting individual household applications for free and reduced-price meals. The CEP allows schools that predominantly serve low-income children to offer free, nutritious school meals to all students through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP). The CEP uses information from other programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Temporary Family Assistance (TFA), instead of traditional paper applications.

CEP Benefits

• All students receive free lunches and breakfasts.
• Household applications for free and reduced-price meals are eliminated.
• No verification is required (districts still complete the annual Verification Collection Report).
• Potential increase in participation for lunch and breakfast.

CEP Final Rule

• Child Nutrition Programs: Community Eligibility Provision - Increasing Options for Schools (Federal Register, 88 FR 65778, October 26, 2023)

CEP Requirements and Implementation

• CEP (USDA website)
• CEP Department of Education Title I Guidance (Revised March 2015)
• CEP Factsheet (USDA)
• CEP Reimbursement Estimator (USDA)
• CEP Resource Center (USDA)
• CSDE Letter to Superintendents (August 29, 2014): Community Eligibility Provision - A New Optional School Meals Reimbursement Initiative
• Exam Fee Reductions and Waivers
  • Advanced Placement (AP) Exams (College Board)
  • Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) Fee Waivers (College Board)
  • American College Testing (ACT) Fee Waiver Eligibility Requirements and Procedures 2023–2024
• Title 1 and E-rate Guidance
  • USDA Memo SP 10-2023: Updated Title I Guidance for Making Within District Allocations
  • USDA Memo SP 08-2015: Updated E-Rate Guidance for Schools Electing Community Eligibility
• Recordkeeping Requirements for the CEP
  • Refer to page 58 of the USDA's guide, Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) Planning and Implementation Guidance 
• USDA Guide: Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) Planning and Implementation Guidance (USDA)
• USDA Memo SP 08-2024: Community Eligibility Provision: Planning and Implementation Guidance - Updated
• USDA Memo SP 09-2024: CEP Guidance and Frequently Asked Questions
• USDA Memo SP 10-2024: CEP: Statutory Annual Notification and Publication Requirements and School Year 2024-25 Election Deadline
• USDA Memo SP 11-2024: CEP: State Agency Procedures to Ensure Identified Student Percentage Accuracy

 

Nondiscrimination Statements (USDA and CSDE)