1. Copyright © 2012 School Nutrition Association. All Rights Reserved. www.schoolnutrition.org Community Eligibility Provision (CEP): What do I need to know? Sunday, March 2, 9:45 am – 10:45 Speakers: Robert Leshin Assistant Director, Office for Nutrition, Health and Safety Massachusetts Dept. of Elementary and Secondary Education Josephine Mack Director of School Nutrition Richmond County School System, GA Lisa McCarty Assistant Superintendent of Support Services Owensboro Public Schools, KY

2. Copyright © 2012 School Nutrition Association. All Rights Reserved. www.schoolnutrition.org CEP Background: Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) is a four-year reimbursement option for eligible high poverty LEAs and schools Advantages: All students receive free meals, eliminates over identification issues, simplifies meal claiming and reduces paperwork. Formerly known as Community Eligibility Option (CEO) Currently participating: DC, IL, KY, MI, NY, OH, WV, FL, GA, MD, MA Available nationwide on July 1, 2014

3. Copyright © 2012 School Nutrition Association. All Rights Reserved. www.schoolnutrition.org Eligibility Requirements: LEAs must have at least 1 school with 40% or more “Identified Students” (certified without application) Eligible LEAs/schools must offer breakfast AND lunch at no charge to all students Do not collect free and reduced price applications from households in participating schools during the period of participation in CEP. CEP can be implemented in 1 school, group of schools or district-wide.

4. Copyright © 2012 School Nutrition Association. All Rights Reserved. www.schoolnutrition.org Identified Students: Students certified for free meals w/o the use of a household application –e.g. directly certified with SNAP, TANF, FDPIR, categorically eligible – migrant youth, homeless, head start etc.

5. Copyright © 2012 School Nutrition Association. All Rights Reserved. www.schoolnutrition.org CEP Reimbursements % Identified Students x 1.6 = % meals reimbursed at “free” rate. All other meals reimbursed at “paid” rate –eg: At a school with 50% Identified Students, 80% of brkfst/lunches served would be reimbursed at free rate, 20% reimbursed at paid rate (50 x 1.6 = 80) CEP schools/LEAs are guaranteed the same reimbursement rate for 4 years (or a higher rate if the Identified Student rate increases) Total monthly meal counts needed for claim

6. Copyright © 2012 School Nutrition Association. All Rights Reserved. www.schoolnutrition.org USDA CEP Calculator:

7. Copyright © 2012 School Nutrition Association. All Rights Reserved. www.schoolnutrition.org Massachusetts Implementation SY 2013-2014 Published guidance on website Boston Public Schools only LEA participating in SY 2013-2014 Increase in federal reimbursement Additional CEP information sessions for LEAs with eligible schools Presentation at state school business officials association

8. Copyright © 2012 School Nutrition Association. All Rights Reserved. www.schoolnutrition.org Massachusetts Challenges Implications of not collecting household income applications: Other Federal and State funding programs (Title 1, IDEA, E-Rate etc.) Working with other offices to properly interpret USED issued guidance Goal is to utilize existing sources of information to provide comparable low income statistics to eliminate collection of household income data

9. Copyright © 2012 School Nutrition Association. All Rights Reserved. www.schoolnutrition.org Massachusetts Challenges Updating NSLP application and claim reimbursement system to support CEP claiming New staff member dedicated to CEP Data: Validating ISP

10. Copyright © 2012 School Nutrition Association. All Rights Reserved. www.schoolnutrition.org Josephine Mack Director of School Nutrition Richmond County School System, GA

11. Copyright © 2012 School Nutrition Association. All Rights Reserved. www.schoolnutrition.org Richmond County Implementation SY 2013-2014

12. Copyright © 2012 School Nutrition Association. All Rights Reserved. www.schoolnutrition.org Richmond County School System Challenges Board members were reluctant to approve CEP because the concerned of school system losing funds and /or not qualify for other Federal and State programs (Title 1, E-Rate, etc.) Completing all the calculations to determine how Title 1 would be impacted Collaborating with other agencies to certify identified students (homeless, foster children)

13. Copyright © 2012 School Nutrition Association. All Rights Reserved. www.schoolnutrition.org Richmond County School System Challenges Determining how many more students will participate in Breakfast and Lunch Programs in order to have enough food purchased Determining how to calculate our Free and Paid percentages for reimbursement

14. Copyright © 2012 School Nutrition Association. All Rights Reserved. www.schoolnutrition.org Benefits of Community Eligibility Provision No Paper Applications Eliminate Student Charges Eliminate Serving Alternative Meals Eliminate Returned Checks Increase Breakfast and Lunch Participation It is what’s best for children…. in order for them to go to class and be ready to learn

15. Copyright © 2012 School Nutrition Association. All Rights Reserved. www.schoolnutrition.org Lisa McCarty Assistant Superintendent of Support Services Owensboro Public Schools, KY

16. Copyright © 2012 School Nutrition Association. All Rights Reserved. www.schoolnutrition.org OWENSBORO PUBLIC SCHOOLS OWENSBORO, KENTUCKY 2011-2012 SchoolFREEREDUCEDPAIDTOTAL% FREE% REDUCED %F/R % DIRECT CERT CLAIM FREE CRAVENS26721223108679366.91%Group 100% Free ESTES39126344518769268.61%Group 100% Free FOUST33119363868659168.37%Group 100% Free HAGER35116354028749160%Group 100% Free NEWTON PARRISH 2276515144351156633.65%Group 100% Free SUTTON1374021038735104624.18%Group 100% Free OMS SOUTH 450551826876687443.31%Group 100% Free OMS NORTH 411471716296577342.81%Group 100% Free OHS HIGH SCHOOL 6559836111145996831.67%Pay for Meals 7-HILLS ALTERNATIVE 5367668098954.41%Group 100% Free

17. Copyright © 2012 School Nutrition Association. All Rights Reserved. www.schoolnutrition.org IMPLEMENTING CEP INVOLVE KEY PLAYERS IN DISCUSSION *SUPERINTENDENT *PRINCIPALS *SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS

18. Copyright © 2012 School Nutrition Association. All Rights Reserved. www.schoolnutrition.org Questions to Consider??? What will the community think about students not having to pay for their meals? Will it be positive or negative publicity for the district? Will there be an increase in student enrollment? Will the SFS lose money? Will our cost increase?

19. Copyright © 2012 School Nutrition Association. All Rights Reserved. www.schoolnutrition.org “STRATEGY” Avoid using the statement “Free Lunch or Free Meals” It is not free, SFS pays for the food, labor, and other expenses Promote it as “ A no cost meal to students”

20. Copyright © 2012 School Nutrition Association. All Rights Reserved. www.schoolnutrition.org RESULTS Parents love it! Second year for Preschool-Elementary First year for Middle School Increase in participation Increase in revenue-$200,000 (2012-2013) Increase in food cost-$40,000

21. Copyright © 2012 School Nutrition Association. All Rights Reserved. www.schoolnutrition.org CEP RESOURCES SNA’s CEP Webinar Series: www.schoolnutrition.org/webinar –Making the Most of Community Eligibility Provision (under archives) –Eliminating School Meal Applications (March 26) –Determining which Schools will be Eligible to Participate in CEP (April 2) SNA’s ANC Boston: www.schoolnutrition.org/ANC –CEP pre-con and ed sessions Links to key USDA and State Materials: www.frac.org/community-eligibility