NDS is pleased to announce that over 75% of our partner schools will be participating in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) in the 2015-16 school year. The Community Eligibility Provision allows eligible schools to bypass the household application process in order to provide breakfast and lunch at no cost to all students.

According to the USDA Food and Nutrition Service, in the 2014-15 school year, the Community Eligibility Provision reached “approximately 14,000 schools in more than 2,000 local educational agencies (LEAs) serving more than 6.4 million children.”

We reached out to principals at our partner schools that participated in CEP in the 2014-15 school year to gather their feedback on the program. The most important benefit of CEP reported by the majority of principals was increased access to breakfast and lunch. Schools participating in CEP showed an increase in both breakfast and lunch participation. Additionally, principals reported that parents have reacted positively to CEP at their students’ schools.

The schools that are joining the Community Eligibility Provision this school year include: Christopher Columbus Charter School, St. Laurentius School, St. Dominic School, St. George School, Resurrection Regional Catholic School, Archbishop Ryan School for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing, St. Lucy Day School for Children with Visual Impairment, and Imani Charter School. We are thankful for this opportunity to change lives with healthy meals.

Click here for an interactive exploration of the benefits of the Community Eligibility Provision!