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January 29, 2015
Reminders on Student Counts
In the FCC Form 471, both schools and libraries provide the total number of students in the school district and the total number of students eligible for the National School Lunch Program (NSLP).
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School districts provide these numbers on a school-by-school basis and the system calculates the totals for the school district.
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Library systems provide the totals for the school district in which the main branch of the library system is located.
As in the past, applicants should use the student counts as of the October 1 prior to the filing of the form, or use the most current figures available. For example, if student counts for this year are not available when you are ready to file your FCC Form 471, you can use the student counts from last year.
For FY2015, the student counts for individual schools are determined in two different ways, depending on whether the individual school participates in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) of NSLP.
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Schools that do not participate in CEP should use actual student counts for the number of the students attending each school and the number of students eligible for NSLP at each school. Remember that alternative discount mechanisms – such as income surveys, sibling matches, and participation in certain federal programs – can be used to establish eligibility on an individual student basis.
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Schools that participate in CEP should enter the total number of students in each school and the approved direct certification percentage under CEP. The system will multiply the total number of students in each school by the approved direct certification percentage and then by the current CEP multiplier (currently 1.6) to arrive at the number of students that are considered eligible for NSLP for E-rate purposes, except that number cannot exceed 100 percent of the total number of students at each school.
- School districts that have both CEP and non-CEP schools must use the appropriate method for each school.
Because libraries provide only the total number of students and the total number of students eligible for NSLP for the school district in which the main branch of the library is located, school districts are encouraged to share their totals as described above with the library or libraries in their area to assist those libraries with the application process.
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