In an effort to reduce paperwork at the local level, Congress has incorporated into Section 11(a)(1) of the National School Lunch Act three alternative provisions to the normal requirements for annual determinations of eligibility for free and reduced price school meals and daily meal counts by type (free, reduced price and paid meals) at the point of service.
Community Eligibility Provision
The Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) is a provision from the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 that allows schools and local educational agencies (LEAs) with high poverty rates to provide free breakfast and lunch to all students. CEP eliminates the burden of collecting household applications to determine eligibility for school meals, relying instead on information from other means-tested programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. Kentucky utilizes an alternative Income form called the Household Income Form that is collected by FRAM coordinators. Click
here for FRAM Coordinator information.
CEP Tools and Resources for Implementation
SFAs approved for participation in the CEP can utilize the following resources to assist with program success.
Interested in Becoming a CEP Sponsor
SFAs that are interested in the CEP program may utilize the following tools and resources to aid in making an informed decision regarding CEP participation.
USDA Guidance, Resources and Policy Updates
The USDA 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.
Title 1 and CEP: Guidance from the US Department of Education
Click here for the KDE Title 1 website, which provides guidance from the US Dept of Education on CEP and Title 1. All questions regarding Title 1 and CEP should be directed to your district's KDE Title 1 consultant.
E-Rate and CEP: Guidance from USDA
E-Rate Guidance
Annual Notification Requirement
CEP Eligibility SY 2016-17
CEP Eligibility SY 2017-18
Additional Provisions
Provision 1
This Provision reduces application burdens by allowing free eligibility to be certified for a 2 year period. In schools where at least 80 percent of the children enrolled are eligible for free or reduced price meals, annual notification of program availability and certification of children eligible for free meals may be reduced to once every 2 consecutive school years. Click here for additional guidance
Provision 2
Provision 2 requires that the school serve meals to participating children at no charge but reduces application burdens to once every 4 years and simplifies meal counting and claiming procedures by allowing a school to receive meal reimbursement based on claiming percentages. Click here for the Provisions 2 Guidance.
Provision 3
This Provision reduces application burdens and meal counting and claiming procedures. It allows schools to simply receive the same level of Federal cash and commodity assistance each year, with some adjustments, for a 4 year period. Click here for additional guidance.