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 03, 2024
Related Content
Recently Posted in Nutrition
  • Waiver for Non-congregate Meals During Ramadan (added 14-Jan-2025)
    The Waiver for Non-congregate Meals During Ramadan allows approved school food authorities to offer non-congregate meals to students fasting during Ramadan.
  • Availability of the 2025-26 Breakfast Grant (added 14-Jan-2025)
    The School Breakfast Program (SBP) and Summer Meal Programs (SMP) Start-up and Expansion Grants, administered by the California Department of Education, provide schools with funding to start-up or expand their SBP and SMP.
  • NSLP Equipment Assistance Grant: Allowable Costs (added 10-Jan-2025)
    The USDA issued Policy Memo SP 06-2025: National School Lunch Program (NSLP) Equipment Assistance Grants (EAG): Installation Expenditures which provides guidance on costs related to installing and using new equipment purchased with EAG funds.
  • Buy American Provision (added 10-Jan-2025)
    The Buy American provision is a procurement standard that SFAs must comply with when purchasing food products served in School Nutrition Programs (SNP). SFAs are required to purchase domestic commodities or products to the maximum extent practicable.
  • Governor Newsom Proclaims State of Emergency (added 08-Jan-2025)
    Governor Newsom proclaims state of emergency to support the communities impacted by the Palisades Fire.

  • Buy American Provision (added 08-Jan-2025)
    This management bulletin provides school food authorities (SFAs) with updates to the Buy American requirements included in the final rule titled Child Nutrition Programs: Meal Patterns Consistent with the 2020-25 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
  • FFAVORS new requirement (added 08-Jan-2025)
    Effective January 5, 2025, (FFAVORS) user are now required to receipt within 2 business days of receipt of product or required delivery date (RDD).
  • CNIPS Update (added 06-Jan-2025)
    Transition of Child Nutrition Information and Payment System (CNIPS) server hosting and maintenance from California Department of Technology to California Department of Education (CDE).
  • October 22, 2024 Tuesday at 2 Town Hall Resources (added 03-Jan-2025)
    The California Department of Education (CDE) Nutrition Services Division (NSD) hosted the monthly Tuesday @ 2 School Nutrition Town Hall webinar October 22, 2024.
  • SNP-11-2024 Final Rule: Fluid Milk Substitutions (added 17-Dec-2024)
    This MB updates and replaces USDA-CNP-04-2010, related to Fluid Milk Substitutions in SNPs to align with the Final Rule.