| DATE: | August 16, 2013 | |
| POLICY MEMO: | SP 54-2013 | |
| SUBJECT: | Transmittal of the Questions and Answers on the Computation of the Direct Certification Performance Rate with the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) | |
| TO: | Regional Directors Special Nutrition Programs Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program All Regions | State Directors Child Nutrition Programs All States |
The attached Q-and-As are issued in follow-up to Policy Memorandum SP 50-2013, Release of the new State Agency (NSLP/SNAP) Direct Certification Rate Data Element Report (Form FNS-834). This information more fully describes the process and data requirements for determining state performance in directly certifying children for free school meals under the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and/or the School Breakfast Program if they live in households receiving assistance under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
The Q-and-As are organized by the three data elements required by the Final Rule—National School Lunch Program: Direct Certification Continuous Improvement Plans Required by the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010. They show how each element fits into the new formula for computing state direct certification performance rates with SNAP, who is responsible for each data element, how the data element is captured, and how and when the data element is to be reported:
For a more complete look at these policies, please refer to:
- Joint NSLP and SNAP Policy Memorandum SP 50-2013, Release of the new State Agency (NSLP/SNAP) Direct Certification Rate Data Element Report (Form FNS834), published July 1, 2013.
- Final Rule, National School Lunch Program: Direct Certification Continuous Improvement Plans Required by the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, published Feb. 22, 2013.
- SNAP Policy Memorandum, Data Exchange between the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) for direct Certification with SNAP, published July 16, 2013.
- Form FNS-834, State Agency (NSLP/SNAP) Direct Certification Rate Data Element Report, approved by OMB on April 30, 2013.
- NSLP Policy Memorandum SP 38-2013, Release of the new School Food Authority (SFA) Verification Collection Report (Form FNS-742), published April 29, 2013.
- Form FNS-742, School Food Authority (SFA) Verification Collection Report, approved by OMB on April 19, 2013.
State agencies should direct any questions to the appropriate FNS regional office. Regional offices with questions should contact the SNP Child Nutrition Division or the SNAP Program Development Division.
| Cynthia Long Director Child Nutrition Division Special Nutrition Programs | Lizbeth Silbermann Director Program Development Division Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program |