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THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT / THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK / ALBANY, NY 12234

Office of P-20 Education Policy
Child Nutrition Program Administration
89 Washington Avenue, Room 375 EBA, Albany, NY 12234
Phone: (518) 473-8781 Fax: (518) 473-0018
To: 
School Food Service Directors/Managers
From: 
Child Nutrition Program Administration
Date: 
Tuesday, May 9, 2023
Subject: 
Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) State Subsidy

The New York State Education Department hosted a webinar to discuss the Community Eligibility Provision State Subsidy on May 18, 2023; that recording can be found here: https://www.cn.nysed.gov/content/community-eligibility-provision-cep-and....

The 2023-2024 Executive Budget amended New York State Education Law by adding Section 925, Community Eligibility Provision State Subsidy. Beginning with school year 2023-2024, the State paid reimbursement rate for Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) meals will increase to ensure that all CEP meals are reimbursed at an amount equal to the total free reimbursement rate.

A School Food Authority (SFA) will only receive this additional funding for the portion of meals served in schools participating in CEP for which the SFA receives the federal paid rate of reimbursement. This subsidy is not available for meals served at CEP buildings in which all meals are reimbursed at the federal free rate of reimbursement and/or meals served at buildings that do not participate in CEP.

SFAs should immediately determine if one of their schools, a group of their schools, or their entire district is eligible to participate in CEP. A list of all school buildings is provided to assist schools with determining potential for CEP participation. The deadline to submit an application to participate in CEP during the 2023-2024 school year is June 30, 2023.

More Information about CEP:

SFAs should reach out to their Child Nutrition Program Representative at 518-473-8781 or by email with any questions or for help evaluating their CEP eligibility.

USDA Potential Expansion of Community Eligibility Provision

USDA has proposed to allow more schools to utilize CEP by lowering the eligibility requirements to participate. This potential expansion, combined with the Community Eligibility Provision State Subsidy, will allow more schools to offer no-cost meals to all enrolled students. USDA Summary of Proposed Changes to CEP.

At such time final changes are made by USDA to CEP, the Child Nutrition office will communicate and provide applicable training.

USDA Nondiscrimination Statement

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-3027.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:

  1. mail:
    U.S. Department of Agriculture
    Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
    1400 Independence Avenue, SW
    Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or
  2. fax:
    (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
  3. email:
    Program.Intake@usda.gov

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Click here for Nondiscrimination Statement translations.

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