To ensure program integrity, school districts must sample household applications certified for free or reduced-price meals, contact the households, and verify eligibility. This process (known as household verification) can be burdensome for both school officials and households. Direct verification uses information from certain other means-tested programs to verify eligibility without contacting applicants. Potential benefits include: less burden for households, less work for school officials, and fewer students with school meal benefits terminated because of nonresponse to verification requests.
This certification is required by the regulations implementing Executive Order 12549, Debarment and Suspension, 7 CFR part 3017, Section 3017.510, Participants' responsibilities. The regulations were published as Part IV of the Jan. 30, 1989, Federal Register (pages 4722-4733).