Community Eligibility Provision

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Overview

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

Under the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (HHFKA), 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 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
E-rate Guidance
- Current E-rate Guidance from the Federal Communications Commission
  (see pages 90-93 for CEP guidance)
- USDA Memo SP 08-2015: Updated E-Rate Guidance for Schools Electing Community Eligibility
- USDA Memo SP 35 2015:Updated Title I Guidance for Schools Electing Community Eligibility
Making High-Poverty Schools Hunger Free: Community Eligibility (Center on Budget and Policy Priorities)
USDA CEP Letter to Superintendents (August 5, 2015)
USDA Memo SP 20-2017: Community Eligibility Provision: Annual Notification and Publication Requirements
USDA Memo SP 54-2016: CEP Guidance and Frequently Asked Questions
USDA Memo SP 61-2016: Community Eligibility Provision: Planning and Implementation Guidance

Nondiscrimination Statements (USDA and CSDE)