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Child nutrition program at risk: Wake County projects revenue losses if federal eligibility changes reduce CEP participation
Summary
Staff told the Budget & Finance Committee that changes in federal eligibility rules tied to SNAP/Medicaid could sharply reduce schools qualifying for the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), risking millions in lost child nutrition revenue and pushing the district toward using local funds if federal or state relief does not arrive.
District nutrition staff told the Wake County Public Schools Budget & Finance Committee that a recent federal budget law will change eligibility calculations and could reduce the number of schools qualifying for the Community Eligibility Provision, imperiling program revenue and the district’s expectation of breaking even in its child nutrition enterprise fund.
“Currently, we have 44 CEP schools, which means that all of our students in those buildings eat meals at no cost,” said Miss Lawrence, a district child nutrition staff member. She warned that changes to SNAP and Medicaid qualification criteria included in the recently enacted federal budget bill will affect “direct certification,” the mechanism that identifies students who automatically qualify for free meals and underpins CEP eligibility.
Projected impacts on CEP and revenue
Lawrence presented scenario modeling showing how CEP participation could shrink if district direct‑certification counts fall. “If I lost 10% of my kids, 15% of my kids, 20% of my kids that…
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