The Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) resource center provides extensive resources for parents, teachers, and school officials at the local, state and federal levels to better understand CEP and its benefits, along with useful tools to help facilitate successful implementation of the provision.
Regulations
- 2023 Rulemaking: Child Nutrition Programs CEP - Increasing Options for Schools
- 2013–2016 Rulemaking: Eliminating Applications Through Community Eligibility as Required by the HHFKA of 2010
- Title 7 CFR 245.9(f), Community Eligibility
Policy Guidance
On Feb. 6, 2024, several policy memos were updated to align with the final rule, Child Nutrition Programs: Community Eligibility Provision-Increasing Options for Schools (published Sept. 26, 2023). The final rule lowered the minimum identified student percentage required to elect the CEP from 40 to 25 percent. For more information on CEP, please visit the CEP policy memos including:
- SP 08-2024: CEP - Planning and Implementation Guidance Updated.
- SP 09-2024: CEP Guidance and Updated Q&As
Technical Assistance Resources
Webinars
- CEP Final Rule Briefing, Child Nutrition Programs: CEP - Increasing Options for Schools (September 2023)
- CEP 101 - The Basics (February 2024)
The CEP Estimator Tool
The CEP monthly federal reimbursement estimator tool may be used to estimate the level of federal reimbursement a CEP school, group of schools, or school district would receive under CEP.
The CEP Slider Tool
Enter your Identified Student Percentage (ISP) in the slider tool to estimate free and paid claiming percentages under the CEP.
Title 1 and E-rate
- Title I Guidance for Schools Electing Community Eligibility (SP35-2015)
- E-Rate Guidance for Schools Electing CEP (SP08-2015)
Exam Fee Reductions and Waivers
Research and Data
- USDA CEP Characteristics Study, SY 2016-17
- CEP Evaluation
- FRAC's CEP Eligibility Status Searchable Database
- USDA State List of Eligible Schools/LEAs