Implementing Community Eligibility Incorporating CEP at Your School Alie Wolf, Data Analyst, OPI-School Nutrition Programs BJ Granbery, Division Administrator, OPI–Educational Opportunity & Equity

Overview CEP Basics Title 1 Implications Resources Q&A’s

What is the Community Eligibility Provision? CEP allows area eligible schools to serve free meals to all enrolled students for a period of four consecutive school years.

Combat Hunger in Your Community 1 in 5 Montana children is at risk for food insecurity CEP simplifies the process for children to access healthy school meals

What Makes CEP Different? Traditional Meal ProgramsCEP Determine meal eligibility individually by collecting free/reduced price applications Reduces paperwork for households and schools by eliminating free & reduced applications Eliminates the burden of tracking and collecting money for meals CEP instead relies on matching data from assistance programs

CEP Eligibility Schools, groups of schools, or school districts must have an identified student percentage (ISP) of at least 40% as of April 1st of the school year prior to implementing CEP Offer breakfast & lunch to students without collecting applications

How is the Identified Student Percentage (ISP) calculated? Identified # of Identified Students Directly Certified Student % = Total # of enrolled students X 100 The identified student percentage may be determined by an individual participating school a group of participating schools in the district district-wide ISP calculation

Who are the Identified Students? CEP eligibility is based on the percentage of identified students enrolled April 1 st of the school year prior to implementing CEP Identified Students - children directly certified for free meals through documentation obtained directly from state or local agency Direct Certification Sources SNAP, TANF, FDPIR, Homeless, Migrant, Runaway, Head Start & Foster

How are meals claimed? ISP is multiplied by a factor of 1.6 to determine the % of total meals served that will be reimbursed at the Federal “Free” rate 1.6 multiplier approximates free and reduced % if applications were still collected Example of a CEP reimbursement rate ISP of 53 x 1.6 = 84.8% The remaining % of total meals is reimbursed at the Federal “paid” rate CEP free claiming percentage serves as a proxy for free and reduced price percentages

How are schools grouped? Schools can be eligible to participate in CEP individually, in a group, or district-wide When schools are grouped, the ISP is calculated using the identified student and enrollment totals for all schools in the group Schools that would not be eligible to participate in CEP individually may participate as part of a group, provided the group ISP is at least 40% Districts can enroll multiple groups for CEP eligibility

Important CEP Dates April 1st The date Identified Student Percentage (ISP) must be established for determining the CEP eligibility and claiming percentages to be used April 15th OPI notify schools of CEP eligibility status School level data is confirmed May 1st OPI publish list of CEP eligible districts and schools August 30th Interested and eligible districts complete Intent to Participate and Addendum forms

Maximize Identified Student Percentages (ISPs) ISP data is captured within OPI’s Direct Certification Application (DCA) system. Ensure direct certification data is coming from all possible sources. Currently SNAP/TANF are the only sources of data automatically matching enrolled students within DCA. Students can be manually directly certified within DCA for the following eligible sources: FDPIR, Homeless, Migrant, Runaway, Head Start & Foster children Extended Eligibility – SNAP, TANF & FDPIR eligibility extends to all students in a participating household DCA system enhancements targeted to be completed for next school year incorporate FDPIR, Homeless, Migrant and foster data

ISP Changes during the 4-Year Cycle ISP/claiming percentages are locked in for a four-year period Participating CEP schools with a higher ISP rate may establish a new ISP and higher free meal reimbursement rate for use in the following school year Schools in year 4 with an ISP less than 40 percent but not less than 30 percent are permitted to elect for an additional grace year

Financial Viability Ensuring financial viability is key when electing CEP Any meal costs in excess of the total Federal reimbursement must be covered through non-Federal sources USDA Estimator Tool

Communicate with Stakeholders Include all stakeholders in conversations about CEP School administrators/board members School food service staff and/or food service vendors Title I and State Educational Agency contacts State nutrition contacts PTA representatives Other groups that may be impacted by CEP