The Community Eligibility Provision and Student Outcomes
By: Amy J. Shelton
This Evidence PRiMER first explains the CEP and then describes the existing research on the effect of CEP adoption on test scores, attendance, and behavior. While the primary goal of the program is to serve more meals and to do so more efficiently, increasing student participation in school meal programs could also conceivably have a positive effect on outcomes that are related to child nutrition. A small but growing literature examines the relationship between CEP adoption and achievement-related outcomes. At the time of this publication there were seven studies publicly available: two peer-reviewed journal articles, three working papers, one doctoral dissertation, and one master’s thesis (see Tables 3 through 6). Some of these studies report null findings overall or for particular grade ranges, and some effects only apply to subgroups of students or schools. However, CEP adoption is associated with reduced suspensions across grade levels, increased elementary and possibly middle school attendance, and increased elementary school math scores.
