The Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) is a federal program that allows schools in low-income areas to provide free breakfast and lunch to all enrolled students. CEP schools can offer this service for up to four years without collecting household applications.

Districts can be eligible by schools and by groups (e.g. K-5 or Secondary Level.). Beginning in the 2024-2025 school year, eligibility will be determined by Districts and schools whose Identified Student Percentages (ISPs) are 25% or higher. ISP data must be reflective of a date between July 1- April 1 of the school year prior to CEP implementation. The ISP percentage is not the same as the free and reduced student percentage that many are familiar with. Identified students must meet one of the following criteria:

• Direct certification for free meals based on participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Ohio Works First (OWF) or Medicaid (Free). 

• Homeless and/or runaway students

• Migrant students

• Federal Head Start program participants

• Foster children confirmed using court documentation

Schools that adopt the CEP are reimbursed using a formula based on their ISP data. If the cost of serving breakfasts and lunches is not covered by federal assistance received, the difference must be paid from the District’s non-federal sources (Operating dollars).

Reynoldsburg City Schools has decided not to participate in the CEP program. Using the CEP Reimbursement Estimator found here, the District estimated reimbursement if we participated by grouping. We did not intentionally explore eligibility by school as this would contribute to inequities across the District. We explored multiple grade bands as well as the District as a whole. In each scenario the District stands to lose between $6,009.93 and $23,093.33 monthly. Our current outstanding lunch balance is $274,101.79.