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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 | Factsheets Community Eligibility Provision Factsheet

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 | Training and Outreach 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 | 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 | Training and Outreach 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 | Training and Outreach Community Eligibility Provision - Summary of Proposed Rule

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

04/06/2023
Resource | Training and Outreach Foster Care Letter

The Departments of Agriculture, Education and Health and Human Services issued a tri-agency letter outlining the categorical eligibility of children and youth in foster care for free school meals.

12/08/2014
Page updated: October 14, 2021