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This resource does not reflect the changes made by the Final Rule published on Sept. 26, 2023, which lowered the minimum identified student percentage required to elect CEP from 40% to 25%.
DATE: | March 26, 2019 | |
MEMO CODE: | SP 17-2019 | |
SUBJECT: | Community Eligibility Provision: Statutory Annual Notification and Publication Requirements and SY 2019-20 Election Deadline | |
TO: | Regional Directors Special Nutrition Programs All Regions | State Directors Child Nutrition Programs All States |
This memorandum details guidance on the annual Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) notification and publication requirements. This memorandum also reminds state agencies that the statutory election deadline for local educational agencies to elect CEP for School Year 2019-20 is June 30, 2019.
Regulations at 7 CFR 245.9(f)(6)(i) require state agencies to annually notify LEAs of district-wide eligibility for CEP. Similarly, LEAs must annually submit school-level eligibility data to the state agency [7 CFR 245.9(f)(5)(i)-(iii)]. By May 1 of each year, state agencies must publish lists of eligible and near-eligible LEAs and schools on their state agency websites. State agencies also provide the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) a single link to these lists for publication on FNS’ CEP website. The remainder of this memorandum provides detailed information to help state agencies and LEAs fulfill the CEP notification and publication requirements.
Two levels of data are required to complete the annual CEP notification process:
Data used to prepare the notification lists must be from the current school year. State agencies and LEAs may use proxy data comprised of existing identified student and enrollment data from the FNS-742, SFA Verification Summary Report, and FNS-834, State Agency (NSLP/SNAP) Direct Certification Rate Data Element Report to fulfill notification and publication requirements. Proxy data may be used only to notify LEAs of possible eligibility; proxy data may not be used to calculate the identified student percentage (ISP) for eligibility or reimbursement purposes. If proxy data is used, the notification must include a note that the data provided is a proxy for actual eligibility. LEAs interested in electing CEP must provide actual school-level identified student and enrollment data as of April 1 to participate.
No later than April 15, state agencies must notify each LEA of the LEA’s district-wide eligibility for CEP in the following categories and provide guidance to LEAs that want to elect CEP or enter a grace year:
State agencies may obtain the number of identified students to determine the district-wide CEP eligibility status from the SFA Verification Summary Report (FNS-742). The sum of the data elements in Section 3 of the FNS-742 provides the number of identified students, and Section 1 of the FNS-742 provides enrollment information for state agencies to calculate the district-wide ISP. In LEAs operating CEP or another special provision in a non-base year, the number of identified students is available from the State Agency (NSLP/SNAP) Direct Certification Rate Data Element Report (FNS-834) Data Element #3.
No later than April 15, LEAs must submit to their state agency lists of schools that:
By May 1, state agencies must post to their public websites lists of LEAs and schools in the categories described above and provide FNS with a single link to these lists. State agencies should email the link to their notification lists to FNS at cepnotification@usda.gov.
When completing the notification lists, one tool state agencies can use is the USDA-developed reporting template, which can be found at https://www.fns.usda.gov/school-meals/community-eligibility-provision-annual-notification-and-publication-requirements. The template is intended to help states streamline notification and publication activities, but is not required. This template is the same USDA-developed template that most states used to complete last year’s notification and publication process.
An LEA that intends to elect CEP for the following school year must notify the state agency by June 30 (7 CFR 245.9(f)(4)). Therefore, by Sunday, June 30, 2019, LEAs that intend to elect CEP for SY 2019-20 must:
LEAs are strongly encouraged to keep contact information up-to-date with the state agency to ensure receipt of critical program information and reminders.
State agencies are reminded to distribute this memorandum to program operators immediately. LEAs and other program operators should direct any questions concerning this guidance to their state agency. State agencies with questions should contact the appropriate FNS regional office.
Angela M. Kline
Director
Policy and Program Development Division
Child Nutrition Programs
The contents of this guidance document do not have the force and effect of law and are not meant to bind the public in any way. This document is intended only to provide clarity to the public regarding existing requirements under the law or agency policies.