Meal Benefits Update

Based on current eligibility, all LPSS school sites will participate in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) program for the 2023-2024 school year. CEP is an alternative to the traditional Meal Benefit Application Program that qualifies the individual student to receive free or reduced-price meals. Due to the increased number of students that are directly certified to receive free meal benefits through other federal programs, all LPSS students will benefit from the CEP program.

What does this mean for students enrolled at LPSS schools?

•   All students are now eligible to receive breakfast and lunch meals at school for the entire school year at no charge
•   The traditional Meal Benefit application will be replaced with an Economic Data Survey. This survey will be requested from the household of a student that does not receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), or Medicaid benefits; only one survey per household is needed.
•   Student household data reported in the Economic Data Survey will be used only for the purpose of obtaining state and federal funding for LPSS
•   Households will be notified when the Economic Data Survey is available, in both the paper and electronic format.

For more information regarding the CEP Program in Lafayette Parish, contact Elizabeth Reid, Meal Benefits Coordinator at 337-521-7375 or email emreid@lpssonline.com.