July 30, 2026 - LARAMIE, Wyo. - Albany County School District is slated to implement the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) and Provision 2 for Free Meal Reimbursement in School Year 2026-2027. Through CEP and Provision 2, a school district, a group of schools or a single school may offer meals at no charge to all students. This eliminates the requirement of households filling out applications for free and reduced meals.
The Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act of 2010 includes the implementation of CEP to ensure that every student in low-income neighborhoods and/or districts can participate in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP) free of charge. To qualify, a district or school must have 25 percent or more of its students eligible for free meals based on direct certification.
Provision 2, created decades ago, allows schools to serve universal free meals for a 4-year cycle based on a single baseline application year.
By participating in CEP and Provision 2 and eliminating the need for meal applications, Albany County School District will reduce administrative and printing costs. Families also benefit from the elimination of completing and submitting meal applications. Most importantly, students will benefit with access to free nutritious meals during the school day.
In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the State or local Agency that administers the program or contact USDA through the Telecommunications Relay Service at 711 (voice and TTY). Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.
To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at How to File a Program Discrimination Complaint and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Mail Stop 9410, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: program.intake@usda.gov.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.