School Breakfast Program
USDA Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) Final Rule
USDA has released the Final Rule: Child Nutrition Programs - CEP Increasing Options for Schools. This final rule amends the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) regulations by lowering the minimum identified student percentage (ISP) from 40 percent to 25 percent.
Waiver Request Notification - CEP
The New York State Education Department has requested the following waivers from annual Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) deadlines from the United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Services (FNS):
Information for Families about P-EBT Benefits for 2021-22 School Year, Summer 2022, and Summer 2023
23-24 Adult Selling Prices
Adult Selling Prices
School Breakfast Program
| Severe Need | $2.84 |
| Non-Severe Need | $2.39 |
National School Lunch Program
| Less than 60% | $4.76 |
| 60% and More | $4.78 |
SY 2025-2026 Training Opportunities
The New York State Education Department (SED), in its commitment to provide ongoing training and technical assistance to Child Nutrition Program operators, announces the preliminary schedule of in-person and webinar training opportunities for the 2024-2025 school year.
Healthy Meals Incentives Recognition Awards for SFAs
Ending of KKFA Flexibilities
On June 25th, 2022, President Biden signed the Keep Kids Fed Act, which extended USDA authority to waive certain requirements for Child Nutrition Programs to address COVID-19. This gave USDA extra resources to continue serving participants of the Child Nutrition Programs through the SY 2022-2023. These flexibilities (along with some waivers that were offered using USDA’s 12(l) National School Lunch Act waiver authority) are set to expire on June 30th, 2023. These flexibilities allowed for children and adult participants to continue to be fed in a safe manner during the pandemic.
CEP State Subsidy Q&As
Community Eligibility Provision (CEP)
1. Who can participate in CEP?
To participate in CEP, at least 25% of enrolled students must be certified for free meals without an application. An entire School Food Authority (SFA), individual school building/Recipient Agency (RA), or group of RAs within an SFA can participate in CEP. SFAs should determine how to implement CEP to maximize the benefits to the most students.
Approved State-level Waiver Request
The New York State Education Department (NYSED) has received State-level waiver authority from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) from the requirements in Section 11(a)(1)(F)(x)(I) of the NSLA, 42 U.S.C. 1759a and FNS regulations at 7 CFR 245.9(f)(4)(i) to allow school food authorities to apply to participate in the Community Eligibility Provision for the 2023-2024 school year until August 31, 2023.
Comments from the Listening Sessions for the CNP: Revision to Meal Patterns Proposed Rule
The New York State Education Department (SED), Office of Child Nutrition Program Administration hosted two listening sessions on March 9th and 16th of 2023 to hear from New York State school food professionals on the potential impact of the “Child Nutrition Programs: Revision to Meal Patterns Consistent with the 2020 Dietary Guideline for Americans” federal proposed rule.



