Mike Bishop, School Nutrition Consultant, Office of School Nutrition CEP–Then and Now Mike Bishop, School Nutrition Consultant, Office of School Nutrition

Background SNAP enrollment is declining nationwide. Direct Certification is linked to SNAP enrollment. Eligibility to operate CEP depends on the number of students on the Direct Certification list.

Tips for Transitioning

Public Relations Work within LEA public relations policy “Just the facts, ma’am (or sir)” Give the background information Not connected to food quality or low participation Give options

Universal Free Breakfast Continue to reduce stigma—ease the transition. Breakfast is available at no charge to all students, regardless of household income. Reimbursement claimed at the correct income category for each student. How Does Universal Free Breakfast Work? When Universal Free Breakfast is offered, breakfast is available at no charge to all students, regardless of their household income. It is usually offered at schools that have a high percentage of students that qualify for free or reduced price meals and often goes hand in hand with breakfast in the classroom, although this is not mandatory. Breakfast is given free to any student who wants it that day; however, the school claims the federal reimbursement at the correct income category for that student. This data is obtained from the students’ lunch applications.

Universal Free Breakfast (Cont’d.) Successfully paired with breakfast in the classroom, but not mandatory. Can also offer with other serving methods—in the cafeteria before the bell, in the classroom, Grab ‘n Go, etc. Combine with Provision 2 or 3. Universal Free Breakfast can be offered with any other serving method – traditional breakfast in the cafeteria before the bell rings, in the classroom, Grab ‘n Go, or as a Mid-Morning Nutrition Break. The serving method depends on the needs of the school. Menus depend on the serving style, but are offered as reimbursable meals. Many schools find that Universal Free Breakfast increases participation so drastically that they do not actually experience a loss from otherwise paying students. Some schools combine Universal Free Breakfast with Provision 2 or 3, which decreases the paperwork involved with offering breakfast in schools with minimal growth from year to year. Why Serve Universal Free Breakfast? Most importantly, when you offer Universal Free Breakfast, more students eat breakfast. Universal Free Breakfast reduces the stigma attached to eating breakfast at school. It makes breakfast available to those students who may not want to participate in the program for fear of being labeled “poor.” It also provides breakfast for those students who cannot afford the cost of a reduced price breakfast and lunch. In addition, children who participate in Universal Free Breakfast tend to have improved attendance, less tardiness, and increased test scores. The quality of their diets also improves. While serving Universal Free Breakfast may increase labor needs, the overall labor costs per meal are actually less with Universal Free Breakfast than with traditional service methods. When Does Universal Free Breakfast Work Best? Universal Free Breakfast works well in schools with greater than 70% of students eligible for free and reduced price meals. However, schools with fewer eligible students have operated the program successfully. If the following situations are present in your school, Universal Free Breakfast is likely to be a success for you: Stigma appears to be a factor in low participation rates. The percent of students eating free and reduced price breakfast is much lower than expected. Teachers are supportive of breakfast and realize its importance to learning. Cafeteria space can accommodate increased participation or breakfast in the classroom is an alternate option.

Provisional Feeding Options

Provision 1 Certified for a two-year period. At least 80 percent of enrolled students eligible for free or reduced price meals. Reduces annual notification and eligibility certification. 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. All other households must be provided a meal application and are allowed to apply for meal benefits each school year.

Provision 1 (Cont’d.) All other households must be provided with a meal application. Meal counts by eligibility as the basis for reimbursement. There is no requirement to offer meals at no charge to all students. Schools must continue to record daily meal counts of the number of meals served to children by type as the basis for calculating reimbursement claims.

Provision 2 Establish claiming percentages. Serve all meals at no charge for a four-year period. Eligibility determinations made in the first (base) year. Meals counted by type. No new eligibility determinations for three years. This Provision reduces application burdens and simplifies meal counting and claiming procedures. It allows schools to establish claiming percentages and to serve all meals at no charge for a 4 year period. Schools must offer meals to all participating children at no charge for a period of 4 years. During the first year, or base year, the school makes eligibility determinations and takes meal counts by type. During the next 3 years, the school makes no new eligibility determinations and counts only the total number of reimbursable meals served each day.

Provision 2 (Cont’d.) Count the total number of reimbursable meals served each day. Meals served at no charge during a four-year period. Reimbursement determined by the percentages established in the base year. Reimbursement during these years is determined by applying the percentages of free, reduced price and paid meals served during the corresponding month of the base year to the total meal count for the claiming month.

Provision 2 (Cont’d.) Base year included as part of the four years. State agency may approve four-year extensions. Schools must pay the difference. The base year is included as part of the 4 years. At the end of each 4 year period, the State agency may approve 4 year extensions if the income level of the school’s population remains stable. Schools electing this alternative must pay the difference between Federal reimbursement and the cost of providing all meals at no charge. The money to pay for this difference must be from sources other than Federal funds.

Provision 3 Schools receive the same level of federal cash and commodity assistance. Based on the last year of eligibility determinations and meal counts by type (base year). Meals served to all participating children at no charge. 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. Schools must serve meals to all participating children at no charge for a period of 4 years. These schools do not make additional eligibility determinations. Instead, they receive the level of Federal cash and commodity support paid to them for the last year in which they made eligibility determinations and meal counts by type, this is the base year

Provision 3 (Cont’d.) Adjusted each year for enrollment and inflation. Base year is not included as part of the four years. State agency may approve a four-year extension. Schools must pay the difference. For each of the 4 years, the level of Federal cash and commodity support is adjusted to reflect changes in enrollment and inflation. The base year is not included as part of the 4 years. At the end of each 4 year period, the State agency may approve 4 year extensions if the income level of the school’s population remains stable. Schools electing this alternative must pay the difference between Federal reimbursement and the cost of providing all meals at no charge. The money to pay for this difference must be from sources other than Federal funds.

Training

Eligibility Training Seek Eligibility Manual training Time intensive Back to free and reduced applications Verification Time intensive Labor concerns

Mission Statement Develop extraordinary school nutrition professionals and provide strategies to increase consumption of healthy school meals.

Nondiscrimination Statement In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.   Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English. To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: program.intake@usda.gov. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.