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Resource | Webinars/Videos Webinar: Community Eligibility Provision 101

A webinar for state agency and school food authority staff focused on the community eligibility provision. 

02/29/2024
Resource | Technical Assistance & Guidance Community Eligibility Provision Fact Sheet

The Community Eligibility Provision is a National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program meal service option that allows schools and school districts located in high poverty areas to offer breakfast and lunch at no cost to all enrolled students.

02/21/2024
Resource | Technical Assistance & Guidance CEP Planning and Implementation Guidance

A final rule, Child Nutrition Programs: Community Eligibility Provision-Increasing Options for Schools (88 FR 65778), was published on Sept. 26, 2023, with an effective date of Oct. 26, 2023, that established the 25 percent minimum ISP threshold.  As a result, more students, households, and schools have the opportunity to experience CEP’s benefits, such as increasing access to school meals at no cost, eliminating unpaid meal charges, minimizing stigma, and streamlining meal service operations.

02/12/2024
Resource | Technical Assistance Community Eligibility Provision Status of School Districts and Schools by State

This map contains links to state-specific information on local educational agencies and schools that may be eligible to elect the Community Eligibility Provision.

10/31/2023
Resource | Technical Assistance & Guidance Community Eligibility Provision Resource Center

The CEP resource center provides extensive resources for parents, teachers, and school officials at the local, state and Federal level to better understand CEP and its positive benefits, along with useful tools to help facilitate successful implementation of the provision in your school!

10/12/2023
Resource | Webinars/Videos Webinar on Final Rule: CEP- Increasing Options for Schools

A webinar for state agency and school food authority staff focused on the Final Rule: Child Nutrition Programs Community Eligibility Provision — Increasing Options for Schools. 

10/12/2023
Resource | Federal Register Documents Final Rule: Child Nutrition Programs - CEP Increasing Options for Schools

This final rule amends the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) regulations by lowering the minimum identified student percentage (ISP) from 40 percent to 25 percent. 

09/26/2023
Resource | Technical Assistance & Guidance CEP Final Rule Summary

USDA published a final rule in the Federal Register on Sept. 26, 2023, to expand access to the Community Eligibility Provision by lowering the minimum identified student percentage participation threshold from 40 percent to 25 percent. 

09/26/2023
Resource | Webinars/Videos Proposed Rule: Community Eligibility Provision – Increasing Options for Schools Webinar

A webinar for state agencies and school food authority staff focused on the proposed rule Child Nutrition Programs: Community Eligibility Provision – Increasing Options for Schools.

04/06/2023
Resource | Technical Assistance & Guidance Community Eligibility Provision - Summary of Proposed Rule

Comparison table for CEP proposed rule: current requirements vs. proposed changes.

04/06/2023
Page updated: October 14, 2021