CEP Background:

Copyright © 2012 School Nutrition Association. All Rights Reserved. www.schoolnutrition.org

Community Eligibility Provision (CEP): What do I need to know?

Sunday, March 2, 11:00 am – 12 noon

Speakers:

Linda Campbell, RD, LDFood Service Director

Perry County School District, KY

Debbie Derico, SNSDirector of Child Nutrition

Marshall County Schools, WV

Cheryl Jones, MBA, SNSEducation and Development Specialist

Georgia Dept. of Education, School Nutrition Program


CEP Background:• 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


Eligibility Requirements:

• High-poverty schools offer free bkfst/lunch to all students w/o collecting applications

• LEAs must have at least 1 school with 40% or more “Identified Students” (certified w/o application)

• CEP can be implemented in 1 school, group of schools or districtwide.


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, etc.


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)


USDA CEP Calculator:


Georgia – Preparing for CEP Pilot

• Stakeholders• Training• Resources


Georgia – Evaluation Interview Follow-Up Questions

• Claim submission for LEAs• Direct Certification (DC) matching and increasing percentages

• Reporting of SNAP and TANF on the new FNS report

• Title 1 allocation concerns


Georgia – Potential Barriers

• Concerns– Title 1 free/reduced data– Grants for eligible students– Reporting – Claims– New students


Georgia – Advantages of CEP• No paper or web applications • Cost savings• No charged meals, charge letters or alternative meals

• Simplifies meal counting and claiming• No overt identification• Increased breakfast and lunch participation• Improves nutrition to at risk students


Georgia – CEP Districts

*City and charter school systems participating in CEP in the district is identified with a green box to the right of their name.


Linda Campbell, RD, LDFood Service Director

Perry County School District, KY


Concerns from Superintendent:

1. Is this a temporary option?2. Is it financially feasible / is the worksheet reliable?

3. Will we lose Title I funding?4. How will we get at risk percentages for other programs?


Benefits1. No charges to try to collect2. Financial relief for Parents3. Increased participation,

students eating better4. No verification5. Very popular with the

community


History• After completion of worksheet anddiscussion with Superintendent and Finance Officer, declined to participate the first year it was available.

• Started the next year, 2012-2013.


Participation Profile• School Year 2011-2012:

– 4,178 enrolled– 2,590 free, 206 reduced– Total 2,796 FRP, with 1,887 on direct cert list.

• School Year 2012-2013:– 4,116 enrolled, 2,335 on direct cert list

• School Year 2013-2014: – 4,220 enrolled, 2,741 on direct cert. list


Results

• Lunch Participation– 2011-2012 participation for lunch was 79% – 2012-2013 jumped to 84% – 2013-2014 currently at 89% this year

• Breakfast Participation – 2011-2012 participation for breakfast was 44% – 2012-2013 at 75% the first year– 2013-2014 continues at 75%


Reimbursement

• October before CEP was $183,418• First year of implementation: $289,282 • Current year: $310,497


A la Carte Funds

• 2011-2012: $14,118• 2012-2013: $26,788• 2013-2014: $27,212


CEP Reimbursement Rate

• First year was 90.75% free, with 9.25% paid. • This year is 100%!


Debbie Derico, SNS

Director of Child NutritionMarshall County Schools, WV


SY 2013 CEP Participation

WV had 54 Counties with at least 1 CEP eligible School

35 Counties applied for CEP

283 Schools participated

90,000 students impacted


SY 2013 CEP Counties

County Wide

Select Schools

Barbour

Berkeley

Boone

Braxton

Brooke

Cabell Clay

Fayette

Gilmer

Grant

Greenbrier

Hampshire

Hancock

Hardy

Harrison

Jackson

Kanawha

Lewis

Lincoln

Logan

McDowell

Marion

Mason

Mercer

Mineral

Mingo

Monongalia

Monroe

Morgan

Nicholas

Ohio

Pendleton

Pocahontas

Preston

Putnam

Raleigh

Randolph

Ritchie

Roane

Taylor

Tucker

Tyler

Upshur

Wayne

Webster

Wetzel

Wirt

Wood

Wyoming

Marshall

Cal-houn

Dodd-ridge

Jeff-erson

Pleas-ants

Sum-mers

No eligible CEP schools


SY 2014 CEP Participation

WV had 52 Counties with at least 1 CEP eligible School

39 Counties applied for CEP

335 Schools are participating

> 110,000 students will be impacted


SY 2014 CEP Counties

County Wide

Select Schools

Barbour

Berkeley

Boone

Braxton

Brooke

Cabell Clay

Fayette

Gilmer

Grant

Greenbrier

Hampshire

Hancock

Hardy

Harrison

Jackson

Kanawha

Lewis

Lincoln

Logan

McDowell

Marion

Mason

Mercer

Mineral

Mingo

Monongalia

Monroe

Morgan

Nicholas

Ohio

Pendleton

Pocahontas

Preston

Putnam

Raleigh

Randolph

Ritchie

Roane

Taylor

Tucker

Tyler

Upshur

Wayne

Webster

Wetzel

Wirt

Wood

Wyoming

Marshall

Cal-houn

Dodd-ridge

Jeff-erson

Pleas-ants

Sum-mers

No eligible CEP schools


SY 2014

Added 4 Counties in SY 14 ( Barbour, Raleigh, Taylor, Upshur)

Added 50 more schools

13 Counties that participated in CEP for SY 13 added schools


SY 2014/13 CEP Comparisson

School Year 2013 11 Counties- County-wide CEP

School Year 201414 Counties- County-wide CEP


Marshall County, WV CEPAbout Our District• School Enrollment: 4,682• ADP Lunch: 73%• ADP Breakfast 57%• Percent Needy 2012: 51%• Percent Needy 2014: 56%• Paid Prices (Before CEP)

Lunch: $1.30 Breakfast: $.95


Concerns and Recommendations

FinancialKnow your data

Current meal prices charged, collection rate, demographics of students eating are all critical

Can opt out It’s about the kids!

• Impact on other programs Title I, E-Rate• Entitlement


Concerns and RecommendationsClaim Percent:Free: 66%Paid: 34%

Marshall County Excess Levy pays $300,0000 for Breakfast!



Effects on other ProgramsTitle I & E-Rate

Guidance is availablePlan ahead



EntitlementUsing tax payers funds to pay for meals for

families who can afford them.Political Impact

Money does stay in the community!


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

http://www.schoolnutrition.org/webinar

http://www.schoolnutrition.org/ANC

http://www.frac.org/community-eligibility

Documents

CEP Background: