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Colton Unified reports 60.9% ISP in CEP rebasing and 3 million meals served as federal changes loom
Summary
Director Casey Robertson told the board the district’s CEP identified student population runs about 60.9% in the latest pools, producing a federal reimbursement rate of roughly 97.664%; Nutrition Services has served more than 3,000,000 meals this school year and is preparing to defend CEP eligibility amid proposed federal verification changes.
Casey Robertson, director of Nutrition Services for Colton Joint Unified, told the board on May 1 that preliminary rebasing shows the district’s identified student population (ISP) at about 60.9 percent — above the 60 percent level discussed in federal proposals — and that the district continues to pursue aggressive data pulls and eligibility extensions to protect Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) coverage.
"For those of us that don't know what CEP is, community eligibility allows schools to offer free breakfast and free lunch to any student within the school district," Robertson said. She explained how the ISP is multiplied by 1.6 to calculate the federal reimbursement rate; with an ISP near 61.04 percent (previous pool) that produces a federal reimbursement around 97.664 percent, leaving a small remainder for state coverage under Prop 98/AB 130 programs.
Robertson warned the board that on April 24 the USDA issued new guidance updating SNAP verification processes and that those changes could affect ISP calculations in other districts. She said the district uses monthly CALPADS pools and software to run eligibility and can extend eligibility where households are undercounted to protect CEP status.
Nutrition Services also provided operational metrics: the district has served more than 3,000,000 meals this school year (about 700,000 breakfasts, nearly 2,000,000 lunches and over 400,000 after‑school meals), supported by roughly 140 staff members and managing more than 200 food SKUs. Robertson asked the board to consider formal advocacy (resolutions or letters) at the state and federal level to oppose policy changes that would narrow CEP eligibility.
Board members expressed strong support for the program’s equity impacts. Board President Dan Flores praised CEP for removing stigma: "If you go to one of our campuses today ... the stigma is gone, and everybody at that table, irrespective of their socioeconomic standing, is eating the same lunch." Several members asked staff to prepare any legislative resolutions or letters the board might adopt to protect the program.
The district also marked School Nutrition Professionals Day (May 2) and recognized staff and student contest winners during the presentation.
