Community Eligibility Provision (CEP)

Community Eligibility Provision (CEP)

All of West Central Valley students eat free breakfast and free lunch! There is no need to fill out Free and Reduced Meal Application.

West Central Valley Community School District is now participating in the US Department of Agriculture's Community Eligibility Provision (CEP).

It is the goal of our Food Services department to feed all students of West Central Valley a nutritious and well balanced meal. Starting in the 2024-2025 School Year, all students will be able to eat a reimbursable breakfast and lunch for FREE. The meals will be funded through the USDA's Community Eligibility Provision (CEP).  Research has shown that students who eat breakfast and lunch on a daily basis increase their attendance, improve their behavior and perform better in school. Participation is automatic and families are not required to fill out any forms or applications.

What is the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP)? Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) was created as part of the USDA's National School Lunch Program. It allows schools with high eligibility for free and reduced-price meals to provide a no-cost reimbursable lunch and breakfast for all students in the school regardless of income.

Will my child receive free or reduced-price meals even if we aren’t income eligible? All students in the CEP school will receive a no-cost reimbursable lunch and breakfast meal regardless of income. The meal must meet the federal guideline for reimbursable meals. This does not include milk only sales, extra entrees, or a la carte sales.

Why am I being asked to complete the CEP Household Income Data Collection/Fee Waiver Benefits Forms? The CEP program allows schools to provide no-cost reimbursable meals to all students regardless of income; therefore, free and reduced-price meals applications are no longer needed to determine eligibility. However, the Department of Education has historically used the number of eligible students to determine the amount of state aid for school districts, among other things. A school with more eligible students generally will receive more state aid. The form also includes a section for waiving or reducing certain allowable fees within the district. 

I have more than one child – do I need to fill out more than one form? Only one (1) form is needed for all your children. 

What happens if I refuse to fill out the CEP Household Income Data Collection Form? If households fail to complete the CEP Household Income Data Collection Form, the delivery of programs and services in your child’s school may be impacted; therefore, it is very important that every household accurately completes the form.

Will the district share my information? The information collected on the CEP Household Income Data/Fee Waiver Benefits Form will be protected using the same protocol as the information collected through the National School Lunch Program’s free and reduced-price meals application.

What if my child changes schools? Your child is eligible for no-cost meals at the school where he/she is currently enrolled. If he/she eats meals at or transfers to a non-CEP school during the school year, you may be responsible for meal charges.

What will happen to my child’s meal account? Meal accounts that have money may be transferred to a sibling’s account or money may be refunded. Money can also stay on the account for additional a la carte items served at schools. All meal accounts with a negative balance will remain on the account until fully paid. Contact the District Office at 515-523-2187 or e-mail jwoodson@wcv.k12.ia.us to inquire about your student’s account.

Who should I contact with questions about the CEP Household Income Data/Fee Waiver Form or the CEP program? Please contact the District Office at 515-523-2187 or the Nutrition Director, Tricia Foster at tfoster@wcv.k12.ia.us