Community Eligibility Reduces Hunger and Decreases Administrative Burden for Schools, Report Finds

Media Contact:

Jordan Baker
jbaker@frac.org
202-640-1118

WASHINGTON, December 19, 2024 — More than 23 million children attending high-poverty schools had access to healthy school meals at no charge through the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) during the 2023–2024 school year, according to a new report released today by the Food Research & Action Center (FRAC).

Participation in CEP grew by 18 percent this school year, with 47,766 schools adopting the program and half of all National School Lunch Program schools now participating. This increase was likely driven by state legislation supporting CEP, as well as the seven new states that began directly certifying students for free meals with Medicaid data in the 2022–2023 school year.

CEP eliminates the need for school meal applications, eliminates school meal debt, streamlines operations and administration for schools and districts, and supports student health and academic performance. Yet the report reveals financial barriers still prevent many eligible schools from opting in, limiting access for millions of students in need.

“While we are grateful for the recent lowering of the threshold for CEP participation, without additional funding, many schools and districts across the country still struggle to adopt this transformative program,” said Crystal FitzSimons, FRAC Interim President. “Increasing the federal reimbursement multiplier is essential to ensure that every eligible school can provide free, nutritious meals to all students.”

State-level policies, such as New York’s subsidy to cover federal reimbursement gaps, are driving record school meal participation.

FRAC calls on Congress to pass legislation like the School Hunger Elimination Act and School Meals Expansion Act to expand CEP and ensure no child goes hungry during the school day.

Raising the federal reimbursement multiplier from 1.6 to 2.5 will make CEP financially viable for more schools, enabling wider adoption and increasing students’ access to healthy school meals. Implementing Medicaid Direct Certification in all states and the District of Columbia will further support schools’ ability to adopt CEP and better link eligible children to free school meals.

FRAC’s report highlights CEP as a pathway to Healthy School Meals for All – providing free school meals to all students regardless of household income.

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