Food and Nutrition Programs

Community Eligibility Provision Information Session

To:	National School Lunch Program Directors
From:	Kathleen C. Millett, Executive Director Office for Nutrition, Health and Safety Programs
Date:	January 31, 2014

RE: NEW Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) Training for Districts and Schools Eligible to participate during the 2014-2015 school year The Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (HHFKA), amended section 11(a) (1) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42.U.S.C.1759a (a) (1)) to provide an alternative to household eligibility applications for free and reduced price meal eligibility in high poverty local educational agencies (LEAs) (or districts) and schools. This meal counting and claiming alternative is referred to as the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Office for Nutrition, Health and Safety Programs has currently scheduled a workshop on the NEW CEP Process for LEAs and schools that are eligible to participate during the 2014-2015 school year. Under the community eligibility provision, schools are required to offer both breakfast and lunch. This option will make it easier for eligible children in low income communities to receive free meals in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs. Community Eligibility alleviates the burden on families by eliminating household applications, while helping schools reduce costs associated with collecting and processing those applications. To learn more information we would like to invite you to our upcoming information session.

Attendance by the School Nutrition Director and Business Manager is strongly recommended.
Workshop is scheduled on the following date and location.

Date	Location
1. Wednesday, February 26,2014 2. SNOW DATE: Monday, March 3,2014	Best Western Royal Plaza, Marlborough, MA

The workshop is scheduled from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. Registration will begin at 9:30 am.

IMPORTANT REGISTRATION INFORMATION

The registration deadline for the workshop is one week prior to the training date. Please register as soon as possible. Please contact Marisol Montes at 781-338-6494 or by email at mmontes@doe.mass.edu, you may also contact Jheanell West at 781-338-6464 or by email at jwest@doe.mass.edu, if you have any questions related to the training(s).

Snow Policy

If school is cancelled in the city/town where the meeting is being held, then the meeting is cancelled and will be rescheduled to the snow day indicated in the memo.

Additional Information

Temperature conditions are beyond our control. Please come prepared with a light sweater or jacket if necessary. We look forward to seeing you at this important training session, as the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Office for Nutrition, Health and Safety Program strive to enhance the efficiency and quality of Child Nutrition Programs across the Commonwealth.

Last Updated: February 7, 2014