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• SY 25-26 CEP for Illinois Schools - Overview and Application Process Webinar
• ​Presentation​​​
  

CEP Application

The Online CEP Evaluation and Application Module opens April 1 for School Year 2025-26 elections. The deadline for CEP application submission for SY 25-26 is June 30, 2025.

Step One of the CEP application process is to secure an April 1 enrollment file, ensuring that all NSLP/SBP students are included in the template format below. ISBE team members are available for technical assistance if needed. Contact us at cnp@isbe.net​ or (800) 545-7892.

• Quick Reference Guide​​
• Sample Template File​
  
• Only CSV file extension is supported
  
• First Name is required (Cannot exceed 30 characters)
• Middle Name is not required (Cannot exceed 30 characters)
• Last Name is required (Cannot exceed 30 characters)
  
• Birth date is required (Cannot be a future date)
• Gender is required (Must be M or F)
• ISBE WINS Site number is required 
• Student Id is not required
  
• Grade is not required​
  

For any school electing CEP for the first time, it is highly recommended that you complete the CEP evaluation worksheets below to ensure that election to CEP is financially feasible for your school/district.​​​​​​​​​​​​​

• CEP and Supplemental Educational Services
• Exam Fee Reductions & Waivers Information for CEP Schools
• Advanced Placement (AP) Exams
• American College Testing (ACT)
• Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) ​​​
  
• Household Notification Sample Letter
• ISBE Sample CEP Public Announcement​
• Joint USDOE/USDA Letter on CEP
• Meal Count Edit Form
  
• ​Operating CEP in School Year 2024-25​
  • Operating CEP in School Year 2024-25 Presentation
• USAC Letter - CEP Impact on E-rate Program
• USDA CEP: Implementing the New Minimum and Identified Student Percentage (Sept. 26, 2023)​
  
• USDA Planning and Implementation Guidance
• U.S. Department of Education Guidance - CEP and Selected Requirements under Title 1, Part a of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as Amended
• Within-District Allocations Under Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as Amended​​​​​​​
  

School Year 2024-25 CEP Evaluation Worksheets (Based on SY 2024-25 Rates of Reimbursements)

In order to determine which worksheet to use, the 60% rate refers to the district's National School Lunch Program rate of reimbursement. Those districts claiming 60% or greater F/R lunches two years prior receive the 60% or greater rate of reimbursement.

The Severe Need Breakfast, is higher rate of reimbursement provided to sites that claimed 40% or greater of their lunches as F/R two years prior. This information can be found on your most recent Approval Letter available in WINS under the attachment link (paper clip icon).

• NSLP 60% rate and Non Severe Need Breakfast
  
• NSLP 60% rate and Severe Need Breakfast
  
• NSLP less than 60​% rate and Non​ Severe Need Breakfast
  
• NSLP less than 60% rate and​​ Severe Need Breakfast​​​​​​​
  

• SY 2025-26 CEP Outreach Data​ (Using SY 24-25 Data)
  
• Participating Districts and Sites
  To identify CEP participating districts and sites, please refer to posted Eligibility Data file​. CEP is marked in column M on the file by site.​​​​