Skip to main content
California Department of Education Logo

Community Eligibility Provision

The School Nutrition Programs (SNP) Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) online training.

Course Description

CEP is a method for reducing paperwork and other administrative burdens at the local level by simplifying the traditional operating procedures for meal eligibility and meal counting. Schools must apply to participate in CEP and receive approval from the California Department of Education (CDE) prior to implementation. This training provides basic information on CEP including how to apply and is recommended for all agencies interested in learning more about CEP.

  • Course Number: 495
  • Course Length: 14 minutes
  • Certificate: None
  • Target Audience: Chief Business Officials, Food Service Directors and Staff
  • Mandatory: No
  • Cost: Free
  • Date Recorded: April 2018

Online Course



Referenced Resources

The following resources are referred to throughout this online course:

Crediting

  • Crediting: 0.25 hours

  • Key Area: Administration (3000)
    • Training Topic: Free and Reduced Price Meal Benefits (3100)
      • Learning Objective: Understand and apply Community Eligibility (3130)

For more information on crediting, access the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) web document Professional Standards Learning Objectives External link opens in new window or tab. (PDF).

Additional Information

USDA CEP Resource Center web page External link opens in new window or tab. provides extensive resources and tools to help facilitate successful implementation of CEP including a webinar series and a federal reimbursement estimator.

Contact Us

For questions regarding this subject, please contact your SNP Specialist. The SNP Specialist list is available in the CNIPS Download Forms section, Form ID Caseload, or call 800-952-5609, Option 2, to be directed to your SNP Specialist.

Questions:   School Nutrition Programs Administration | 916-322-3005
Last Reviewed: Wednesday, April 3, 2024
Related Content
Recently Posted in Nutrition
  • Grimmway Farms Recalls Organic Carrots (added 19-Nov-2024)
    Grimmway Farms Recalls Organic Whole and Select Organic Baby Carrots.
  • CEP Management Bulletin: SNP-06-2024 (added 18-Nov-2024)
    This bulletin contains updated information on the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP).
  • Community Eligibility Provision Application (added 15-Nov-2024)
    This management bulletin provides information on the Community Eligibility Provision.
  • Universal Breakfast (added 15-Nov-2024)
    This management bulletin provides updated guidance for implementing a Universal Breakfast meal service option when school food authorities are not operating under the Universal Meals Program.
  • 2024–25 FFVP Second Allocation Funding Results (added 12-Nov-2024)
    On October 1, 2024 , the CDE NSD awarded and posted the FFVP second allocation grant recipients and funding allocations for School Year 2024–25 on the CDE FFVP Funding Results web page. The FFVP second allocation is October 1, 2024–June 30, 2025.

  • Ventura County State of Emergency (added 08-Nov-2024)
    Governor Newsom proclaims state of emergency in Ventura County due to Mountain Fire.
  • SUN Bucks Web Page is Now Live (added 07-Nov-2024)
    Helpful information for LEAs regarding the SUN Bucks program.
  • Meal Service During Unanticipated School Closures (added 05-Nov-2024)
    The MB was revised to update contact information. Policy guidance has not changed for the School Nutrition and Summer Food Service Programs and remains current.
  • LCFF Legislative Change (added 01-Nov-2024)
    Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) legislative change for CEP/Provision Schools.
  • Healthy Meals Incentives Grant (added 01-Nov-2024)
    Boise State’s Project SCALES is accepting applications for Healthy Meals Initiative, School Food System Transformation Challenge grants. This collaborative three-year grant will support projects that reimagine the school food system.