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CEP Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is CEP? Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) is a USDA program that allows school districts to
serve all students in eligible schools a free breakfast and lunch.
2. When does it start? Irving ISD students in Early Childhood, Elementary and Middle School will have
access to a free breakfast and lunch starting with the first day of school.
3. Do parents have to fill out a meal application to qualify for CEP? No, parents of students in Early
Childhood, Elementary and Middle Schools will NOT have to fill out a meal application.
4. Do I have to complete a meal application for my child in High School? Yes, parents of High School
students will have to complete a meal application if they want to be considered for meal benefits.
Applications can be completed online or on a paper application. Paper applications are available at all
high schools and the Food Service Center. When completing applications for your high school
student, every person in the household must be included on the application, even students that will
receive free meals through the CEP program.
5. I have never qualified for meal benefits in the past due to my family’s income. Will my child be
eligible to receive free meals also? Yes, all Early Childhood, Elementary and Middle School students,
regardless of a parent’s ability to pay, will be eligible to receive a free breakfast and lunch meal.
6. Will High Schools be on the program next year? We are working on qualifying high schools for the
CEP program, but they will not be on it this year.
7. If I have money on my Elementary child’s meal account, should I request a refund? No, you do not
have to request a refund. The funds on your child’s account may be used to purchase healthy a la
carte snacks or an additional entrée or food item. Profits from a la carte sales are used to support the
“Snacks for Success” daytime snacks provided to all elementary students, free of charge. The funds in
your child’s account may also be transferred to another of your children with a meal account at Irving
ISD. Funds on meal accounts will roll over year to year, so you do not need to worry about losing the
money on their account.
8. Can students take more than one meal? One free complete breakfast and lunch will be provided to
each student. Additional meals/entrees or snacks may be purchased.
9. What if my child wants the entrée or just one item from the breakfast or lunch line? Students must
take a complete meal to receive it at no cost. If a student chooses to take only one or two items, they
must pay a la carte pricing for those items.
For more information, please call the Food and Nutrition Services Center at 972-600-6900
USDA Nondiscrimination Statement
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In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.
Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.
To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USDA-OASCR%20P-Complaint-Form-0508-0002-508-11-28-17Fax2Mail.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:
- mail:
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or - fax:
(833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or - email:
Program.Intake@usda.gov
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
07/25/2022 - mail: