Community Eligibility Provision (CEP)

REMINDER: Local Education Agencies (LEAs) that plan to participate in CEP MUST complete the application process by JUNE 30. Please review the CEP Application Process (Web Instructions). 

The Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) provides the option to offer free meals to all students in eligible high poverty Local Education Agencies (LEA) and schools without collecting household applications.  Eligible LEAs and schools use a claiming percentage based on the number of identified students (primarily directly certified students) of at least 40%, multiplied by a factor of 1.6, to determine a free claiming percentage.  The difference between the free claiming percentage and 100% determines the percentage of meals to claim in the paid category.

Provided below is information to help determine if CEP is a good option for your LEA. 

CEP SY 2017-2018

• Eligible and Near Eligible LEAs and Sites 

  • LEAs - Annual Notification

  • LEAs by site - Annual Notification

CEP SY 2016-2017

• Participating LEAs and Sites​
  • Participation with Identified Student Percentage by Site

• Eligible and Near Eligible LEAs and Sites 

  • LEAs - Annual Notification

  • LEAs by site - Annual Notification

CEP SY 2015-2016

• Participating LEAs and Sites

  • LEAs Electing CEP

  • Participation with Identified Student Percentages by Site

• Eligible and Near Eligible LEAs and Sites 

  • LEAs - Annual Notification

  • LEAs by site - Annual Notification

CEP SY 2014-2015

• Participating LEAs and Sites

  • LEAs Electing CEP

  • Participation with Identified Student Percentages by site

• Eligible and Near Eligible LEAs and Sites

  • LEAs and sites - Annual Notification

Overview

CEP Application Process (Web Instructions) 

• SP-20-2017:  Community Eligibility Provision: Annual Notification and Publication Requirements 
• SP-54-2016:  Community Eligibility Provision: Guidance and Updated Q&As
• SP-52-2016:  Early Implementation of Eligibility Carryover Period for Students Transitioning from Provision Schools: State Agency Extension Option
• SP-51-2016:  Ensuring Year-long Eligibility in the School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs 
• SP-30-2016:  Extension of the Deadline for Local Educational Agencies to Elect the Community Eligibility Provision for School Year 2016-17
• Joint CEP Letter
• CEP Presentation
• CEP Presentation - Community Eligibility Basics: How CEP can Transform Your Schools 
• CEP Notification and Data Requirements
• CEP Evaluation
• SP-10-2015: Area Eligibility in Child Nutrition Programs

Final Rule

• Final Rule:  Community Eligibility Provision

Resources

• Identified Student Percentage (ISP) Calculation Worksheet for Community Eligibility Provision Participation
• Instructions to Upload the ISP Supporting Documentation
• Media Release
• Sample Letter to Households for CEP
• CEP Calculators
  • Traditional vs CEP Comparison 
    This is a tool to assist in determining if CEP is beneficial for  you based on monthly reimbursement.
  • CEP Monthly Federal Reimbursement Estimator
    This is a tool to assist in determining whether the CEP is right for you based on your monthly reimbursement.
• ​CEP Participants - Daily Meal Count Form 
• SP 15-2016 - Community Eligibility Provision: State Agency Procedures to Ensure Identified Student Percentage Accuracy 
  • ISP Worksheet for LEAs: Calculating the Identified Student Percentage
  • State Agency ISP Checklist: Checking Identified Student Percentage Accuracy
• Community Eligibility Provision: Planning and Implementation Guidance
  • SP-61-2016
• USDA Community Eligibility Provision Resource Center 

Title I

• Community Eligibility Provision: Revised Department of Education Title I Guidance - USDA Memo - SP-35-2015

E-Rate

• SP-08-2015: Updated E-Rate Guidance for Schools Electing Community Eligibility