Community Eligibility Provision

The Community Eligibility Provision (CEP)

What Does It Mean For Your School?

What does it do?

• Allows schools and local educational agencies (LEAs) located in low-income areas to provide free breakfast and lunch to all students

• Eliminates the burden of collecting household applications to determine eligibility for school meal programs

Who benefits? Everyone!

Students

• Access to free nutritious meals for all students, no stigma, and less time spent in cashier lines and more time to eat nutritious meals

Parents

• No household application means less paperwork and no worries about lunch accounts

School staff

• Streamlined meal service operation and more time for students to consume their food

Administrators

• Reduced paperwork and administrative costs, no need to track unpaid meal charges, improved program integrity, and more nourished students ready to learn and grow

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

All Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) schools offer free breakfast and free lunch to all enrolled students: Discover our CEP schools below!