Join our Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) Information Session to learn from currently participating schools about how the program can benefit your school district.
At the end of the session, the New Jersey Department of Agriculture’s Division of Food and Nutrition will be there to assist with questions and program resources. The deadline to opt into CEP for the 2025-26 School Year is June 30, 2025.
Key Benefits of CEP:
Fights Childhood Hunger & Supports Families: Every student is guaranteed two free nutritious meals every school day, giving children access to the fuel they need to learn while eliminating out-of-pocket meal costs to help families.
Reduces Administrative Burden & School Meal Debt: CEP streamlines paperwork by removing fee category meal tracking. It also eliminates school meal debt and the collections process, giving staff back more valuable time.
Promotes Equity & Eliminates Stigma: When all students eat for free, children are no longer identified as low-income, and students never have to go hungry or eat an “alternate” meal due to financial barriers.
Boosts School Meals Participation & Revenue: Free meals lead to higher participation, increased school meal revenue, and improved lunch line efficiency.
