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• SY 24-25 CEP for Illinois Schools - Overview and Application Process Webinar​
  
• ​SY 24-25 CEP for Illinois Schools - Overview and Application Process Presentation​
  
• CEP Application Identified Student Percentage Reduced to 25% by USDA Final Rule​ – Effective for SY 24-25 CEP elections ​
  
• All materials will be updated in the near future to reflect updated CEP election threshold of 25% identified students.  ​
  

CEP Application

The Online CEP Evaluation and Application Module is closed for SY 23-24 elections. Due to the recent USDA Final Rule reducing the identified student percentage to 25% and greater, as ISBE evaluates options, more information will be shared in the near future.

At a minimum, the 25% Identified Student percentage will be an options for all LEAs for the SY 24-25 elections of CEP which will begin April 1, 2024. The deadline for CEP application submission for SY 24-25 will be June 30, 2024.

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
  

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
• Joint USDOE/USDA Letter on CEP
• Meal Count Edit Form
• Operating as CEP in SY 22-23
  
• 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 2023-24 CEP Evaluation Worksheets (Based on SY 2023-24 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 2024-25 CEP Outreach Data​ (Using SY 23-24 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.​​​