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.
UNDERSTANDING THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE CEP FINAL RULE
Effective October 26, 2023, the Identified Student Percentage (ISP) threshold for participating in the CEP has decreased from 40 percent to 25 percent.
During this webinar, the No Kid Hungry team provided a brief overview of how CEP works, how the ISP threshold was changed, and what the change means for schools, districts, and states. Watch the webinar to learn more about the recent changes.
CEP Assessment Tools
From maximizing ISPs to business savvy strategies to increase revenue. We have several tools for you!
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.
*UPDATED* CEP Data Analysis Tool
RECOMMENDED: Download the Instructions* Updated 8/3/22
DOWNLOAD THE TOOL: CEP Analysis NKH X LunchAssist
LunchAssist PRO Resource | Data Checklist for the Community Eligibility Provision
LunchAssist PRO Resource | Meal Claiming Methods Comparison Chart for SY 22-23
We are here to help! Have a question about CEP Rules & Policies, Technical Assistance, or the Tool.
Making the Case for CEP
- One-page CEP Overview
- Promoting Educational Equity With CEP
- How CEP Benefits Students, Families, and Schools
- CEP Talking Points for Conversations with District Administrators
- Template Letter to School Administrators About Adopting CEP
- What School Nutrition Staff Need to Know About Title 1 Funding
- Including Community Eligibility in Your Back-to-School Plans (webinar)
Maximizing Reimbursement and Participation
- Strategies for Finding Success with CEP
- CEP Financial Considerations for School Business Officials
- “COVID’s Impact on School Meal Data & Title I Funding” published by ASBO International
Grouping and Financial Analysis Tools
- No Kid Hungry’s CEP Calculator and video demo
- MealsCount.com and video demo (grouping tool)
Other Options for Universal Free School Meals
The latest updates and resources on CEP can be found here.
NO KID HUNGRY 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!
RESOURCES
We encourage you to always visit the California’s Department of Education and USDA websites for up-to-date information, deadlines, and waiver information.
Last Reviewed: November 14, 2023