Community Eligibility Provision (CEP)

The Community Eligibility Provision program is part of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 that allows schools with higher concentrations of students qualifying for the federal Free and Reduced Lunch and Breakfast Program to participate in a program providing breakfast and lunch to all students at no charge. The federal government provides reimbursement to CCSD15 for every breakfast and lunch served to cover the costs of food provided. As this is a federally funded program, it does not impact registration fees or taxes.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) sets the guidelines for the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) program based on the number of economically disadvantaged students in a building. 

These schools are not currently eligible for the CEP program:

• Frank C. Whiteley Elementary School
• Hunting Ridge Elementary School
• Marion Jordan Elementary School
• Pleasant Hill Elementary School
• Willow Bend Elementary School
• Thomas Jefferson Middle School
• Plum Grove Middle School

The CEP program begins on the first day of school at all eligibile schools.

Breakfast—Breakfast will be served to students before school, if they arrive prior to the start of the school day. Students arriving when school begins will be offered a grab-and-go option to be eaten at their desks. 

Lunch—For lunch, students should notify their teacher in the morning that they would like to receive a lunch that day. 

Students are entitled to one free breakfast and one free lunch per day. Any additional meals or a la carte items may be purchased using funds in your School Cafe account.

If your child attends a CEP school, you no longer need to complete any paperwork to receive free or reduced-price meals. No other action is needed. All students in these schools are entitled to receive one free breakfast and one free lunch each day.

However, this program does not extend to a waiver for student fees. To apply for a waiver of student fees based on low household income or on a financial hardship in the family, an application must be completed and returned to the school. See "My school is part of the CEP program. Are student fees also automatically waived?" below.

A school's participation in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) program does not automatically extend to a waiver of student fees for families. If you wish to apply for a waiver of student fees based on low household income or on a financial hardship in the family, here's how:

• To apply for a fee waiver based on low household income:
  • Review the Instructions to complete the Application for Educational Benefits (English) | (Spanish)
  • Complete the Application for Educational Benefits (English) | (Spanish) 
  • Return the application to your child's school. 
     
• To apply for a fee waiver based on a financial hardship in the family:
  • Review and complete the Application for Fee & Fine Waiver (English) | (Spanish)
  • Return the application to your child's school.

If the fee waiver application is approved, student fees will be waived. If the application is not approved, you may appeal the decision with the Hearing Official, Anthony Fashoda, CCSD15 Director of Fiscal Services.

Please visit the Student Fees page, Student Fee Waivers, for more information about student fees and fee waivers.

Reference: Board policy 4:140 Waiver of Student Fees

No, participation is voluntary. Parents may elect to pack a lunch for their child if they’d prefer to do that. All meals exceed USDA mandated requirements and align with USDA dietary guidelines.