Community Eligibility Provision (CEP)

The Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) provides an alternative approach for offering school meals to local educational agencies (LEAs) and schools in low income areas, instead of collecting individual applications for free and reduced price meals.

The CEP allows schools that predominantly serve low-income children to offer free, nutritious school meals to all students through the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs. The CEP uses information from other programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Temporary Assistance Program for Needy Families (TANF) instead of traditional paper applications. For more information about the CEP application process, please contact the Nutrition Services staff at 402-471-2488 or 800-731-2233.

Nationwide Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) Data Waiver

In accordance with the Families First Coronavirus Response Act of 2020, FNS is extending the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) deadlines for the School Year 2020-2021. The deadlines affected by this waiver include the CEP election, notification and reporting deadlines. This waiver applies to state and local educational agencies (LEAs) administering the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), School Breakfast Program (SBP), and CEP.

This waiver makes the following adjustments to annual CEP deadlines:

CEP Requirement	Annual Deadline	Waiver Deadline
Data Used to Calculate ISP	April 1	Anytime between April 1-June 30, 2020
LEA Notification	April 15	June 15, 2020
State Agency Notification	April 15	June 15, 2020
State Agency Publication	May 1	June 30, 2020
Elect CEP for Following SY	June 30	August 31, 2020

CEP Annual Notification

SP 11-2018 Memo: Community Eligibility Provision: Statutory Annual Notification and Publication Requirements
CEP Data Template
Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) Annual Notification Spreadsheet (Local Education Agency and School Level – Masking rules apply. Proxy data are used.)
- SY 2020-21 Annual Notification Spreadsheet
- SY 2019-20 Annual Notification Spreadsheet

CEP Makes Cents

This July 2019 webinar uses Title 1, TEEOSA, and E-Rate data from current Nebraska CEP schools to show the program’s overall positive financial impact.

CEP Resources

SP 61-2016 Memo – Fall 2016 Edition: Community Eligibility Provision: Planning and Implementatino Guidance
- Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) Planning & Implementation Guidance
CEP Fact-Sheet – What Does It Mean For Your School or Local Educational Agency? – April 2015
CEP Brochure
USDA / USDE Letter of Support.pdf
U.S. Department of Education CEP Guidance.pdf – Published March 2015
- This guidance provides ED’s interpretation of various statutory provisions and does not impose any requirements beyond those included in the ESEA and other applicable laws and regulations. It replaces guidance provided on Title I and Community Eligibility, most recently in July 2012, and does not create or confer any rights for or on any person.
USAC Erate CEP Letter 7-31-2012

Forms

USDA Memos and Program Guidance

SP 20-2017 CEP: Annual Notification and Publication Requirements
SP 20-2016 CEP: Extension of the Deadline for Local Educational Agencies to Elect the Community Eligibility Provision for School Year 2016-17
SP 19-2016 CEP: Community Eligibility Provision: Guidance and Updated Q & As
SP 19-2014 CEP: Department of Education Title I Guidance (January 31, 2014)
SP 21-2014 CEP: Guidance and Q & As (February 25, 2014)
SP 32-2014 CEP: Annual Nonfiction and Publication Requirements (April 01, 2014)

Power Points

NDE Administrators Day July 30, 2014, CEP Nutrition Services and Title I
- Power Point Presentation.pdf

Forms and Resources

Forms and Resources Home