Election Deadline
The deadline for local educational agencies to elect CEP for the following school year is June 30.
The Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) is a non-pricing meal service option for schools and school districts in low-income areas. CEP allows the nation’s highest poverty schools and districts to serve breakfast and lunch at no cost to all enrolled students without collecting household applications. Instead, schools that adopt CEP are reimbursed using a formula based on the percentage of students categorically eligible for free meals based on their participation in other specific means-tested programs, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).
Eligibility and Participation in CEP
June 30 is the annual CEP election deadline. Interested local educational agencies (LEAs) should contact their state agency for more information.
- USDA State List of Eligible Schools/LEAs - see what schools/LEAs are eligible for CEP in your state.
- CEP Slider Tool - enter the identified student percentage for your school or LEA to estimate free and paid claiming percentages under CEP.
- CEP Monthly Federal Reimbursement Estimator Tool - estimate the level of federal reimbursement a CEP school, group of schools, or school district would receive under CEP.
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 benefits, along with useful tools to help facilitate successful implementation of the provision in your school!