Child Nutrition Programs: Community Eligibility Provision-Increasing Options for Schools
other · Food and Nutrition Service · Rule · Published 2023-09-26 · Effective 2023-10-26 · 88 FR 65778
Document
Document number
2023-20294
Federal Register citation
88 FR 65778
CFR reference
7 CFR 245
Type
Rule
Action
Final rule.
Category
other
Sub-agency
Food and Nutrition Service
Publication date
2023-09-26
Effective date
2023-10-26
USDA docket
FNS-2022-0044
Abstract
This final rule amends the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) regulations by lowering the minimum identified student percentage (ISP) from 40 percent to 25 percent. Lowering the minimum ISP will give States and schools greater flexibility to offer meals to all enrolled students at no cost when financially viable. As a result of this rule, more schools are eligible to participate in CEP and experience the associated benefits, such as increasing students' access to healthy, no-cost school meals; eliminating unpaid meal charges; reducing stigma; and streamlining Program administration and meal service operations.