Direct Certification

1
Direct Certification

• part 7

2
Definition

• Simplified method of determining free meal
  eligibility without having the family complete a
  free and reduced price meal application.
• Food Stamp recipients are categorically eligible
  for free meals.
• (manual, page 41)

3
Section 104, Child Nutrition and WIC
Reauthorization Act of 2004 Requires Direct
Certification for Children in Food Stamp
Households

• Implementation Deadlines
• 2006-2007 SY
• 25,000 students (preceding year)
• 2007-2008 SY
• 10,000 students (preceding year)
• ! 2008-2009
• All remaining school districts

4
Colorados Direct Certification Process

• The SFA compiles student data in a designated
  format, then runs an interface with the Colorado
  Human Services Master file to obtain student
  matches, and prints a report of eligible
  students.
• Sometimes data input errors do not pick up all
  family members must have application for the
  missed students.
• (Instructions, blue handout page 15)

5
Direct Certification Matches2007-08 School Year

• Denver 14,743
• Adams 12 4,354
• Thompson 2,200
• Brighton 805
• Pueblo 70 885
• Widefield 902

6
Section 104 also adds permissive authority for
SFAs to directly certify

• Homeless children
• Runaway children
• Migrant children

7
Income Verification

• Income verification is not required for directly
  certified students.
• If applications are also received for these
  students, discard.

8
Information SFAs will need for data match

• District number
• Students name (first and last)
• Student SS
• Birth date
• Address
• City
• Zip code
• (manual, page 42)

9
Direct Certification File

• Specified record layout format
• (white handout, page 21)
• Access to CDE Direct Certification Web
  Application interface (user name password)
• Attachments E F

10
Attachment E

• Yearly Agreement between SFA CDE
• Documentation required
• Notice to eligible households
• Overt identification
• Confidentiality
• (white handout, page 24)

11
Attachment F

• Notification Methods
• Method 1 Prior to the start of the SY, letters
  are mailed to homes of all students.
• Food stamp households, with children who have
  been directly certified, will receive a letter
  indicating that their children have been approved
  for free school meals.
• All other student households will receive a
  packet containing a parent letter and application
  for free reduced price meals.
• OTHER? Describe.
• (white handout, page 25)

12
Results

• Four types of matches
• SS, LName, Birth date
• SS, Birth date
• LName, FName, Birth date, Zip code
• LName, FName, Birth date

13
Results, cont.

• Print hard copy
• Match record with codes (1, 2, 3, or 4) in the
  field following the zip code
• SFA must check on hard copy
• Save data on CD or flash drive
• Download Direct Cert results in districts free
  and reduced price eligibility software

14
Timelines

• Food Stamp information updated yearly (approx.
  June 5).
• The SFA determines its own timeline for
  completing the process.
• Must be completed by September 15th the system
  closes after this date.