The purpose of this communication is to notify all school food authorities (SFA) of the deadline to apply to participate in Provision 2 (P2) or to extend an expiring P2 cycle.
P2 is a federal claiming alternative that reduces paperwork and other administrative burdens at the local level by simplifying the traditional operating procedures for meal eligibility and meal counting. SFAs operating under P2 serve meals at no cost to students and only collect meal applications once every four years (unless approved for an extension). There is no minimum free and reduced-price eligibility threshold to participate in P2.
During the first year of the P2 cycle, SFAs must complete all standard meal counting and claiming activities. These activities include establishing new meal eligibilities for students through household meal applications and direct certification, claiming meals by the appropriate free, reduced-price, and paid types, and completing the annual verification process. After the first year of the cycle, P2 offers schools a reduction in the administrative burdens associated with the determination of household eligibility and tracking meal counts by eligibility type.
For SFAs operating in a normal school schedule, the deadline to apply is June 30 prior to the school year in which the SFA is requesting to either begin participation or to extend their current P2 cycle.
For SFAs operating in a year−round school schedule, the deadline to apply is June 1 prior to the school year in which the SFA is requesting to either begin participation or to extend their current P2 cycle.
Prior to the application deadline, SFAs applying to establish a new P2 cycle must submit the Policy Statement Addendum – Provision 2 Implementation – New Cycle (SNP-13), as well as watch the P2 Training Video and obtain the certificate of completion. Form SNP-13 is located in the Download Forms section of the Child Nutrition Information and Payment System (CNIPS)
. The P2 Training Video, along with additional information regarding P2, is on the California Department of Education P2 web page.
Prior to the application deadline, SFAs applying to extend their current P2 cycle must submit the Extension Request—Claiming Alternatives, Provision 2. The P2 Extension Request is in the CNIPS
Download Forms section, Form ID SNP-15a and SNP-15b.
Contact Information
If you have any questions or need assistance regarding applying for P2, please contact your School Nutrition Programs (SNP) Specialist. A current list of SNP Specialists is available on the SNP Specialist Directory web page You may also email Provision2@cde.ca.gov.