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What is CEP?

The Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) is a federal school meal funding option that enables schools, participating in the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program, to streamline school meal operations by allowing schools with a minimum percentage of identified students to provide no-cost meals to all students as well as forgo the collection of free and reduced-price applications. We partners with school districts considering CEP and provides grants and technical assistance to improve and expand existing CEP programs.

CEP Assessment Tools

From maximizing the Identified Student Percentage (ISP) threshold to business savvy strategies to increase revenue. We have several tools to help school districts adopt and expand CEP.

Download the 2023-2024 CEP Calculator

The CEP Calculator enables school nutrition staff to…

  1. Compare side-by-side your district’s expected annual revenue under both CEP and standard NSLP (standard counting and claiming)
  2. Compare side-by-side each school’s expected annual revenue under both CEP and standard NSLP
  3. Customize your financial analysis by manipulating expected breakfast and lunch participation rates by school, and see the impacts on revenue in real-time
  4. Optimize your revenue with CEP by using strategic grouping, powered by the CEP grouping tool, Meals Count. It’s built right into the calculator!
Download the 2023-24 CEP Calculator Here!

For step-by-step guidance on how to use the CEP Calculator, view the short demo below. You can also view a longer webinar and demo here.

Questions? Feedback? Email Regis Whaley at rwhaley@strength.org.

Calculator last updated 10/16/23

Optimize CEP Revenue with Meals Count

Meals Count is a free tool to help school districts optimize their Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) applications, maximize school meal funding, and fight childhood hunger.

Optimizing CEP Revenue with Meals Count Here

Use the CEP Data Analysis Tool

We are here to help! Have a question about CEP Rules & Policies, Technical Assistance, or the Tool. SUBMIT YOUR INQUIRY

Download the Additional Resources

Making the Case for CEP

Maximizing Reimbursement and Participation

Grouping and Financial Analysis Tools

Other Options for Universal Free School Meals

The latest updates and resources on CEP can be found here.

Peer-To-Peer CEP Workgroup

The CEP Workgroup is a series of workshops led by school nutrition peers and experts, for school nutrition directors to help them prepare for the transition to CEP. Each session offers one-on-one support, active discussions with other districts, and a deep dive on each topics. The sessions include some of the following topics:

  • CEP Basics & Universal Meals for SY22-23
  • The Power of Partnerships & Strategic Groupings to Maximize ISP
  • Tips on Direct Certification & Data Management
  • Alternative Income Forms, Stakeholder Buy-In & Communications
  • Increasing Capacity & Participation with CEP

Rewatch the sessions! Watch the playlists of speaker presentations from both: CEP Workgroup 1.0 and CEP Workgroup 2.0.

Registration is closed. If you are interested in learning about the Workgroup or joining a future cohort, contact us at nokidhungryca@strength.org and stay tuned!

Last update: March 13, 2025