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Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2017-0049 2018 Direct Certification Improvement Grant RFA

The fiscal year 2018 Direct Certification Improvement Grant Request for Applications are available to state agencies that administer the National School Lunch and the School Breakfast programs to fund the costs of improving your direct certification rates with SNAP, and other needs-based assistance programs.

SP41-2017
08/15/2017
Resource | Notices Comment Request - Evaluation of the Direct Certification With Medicaid for Free and Reduced-Price (DCM-F/RP) Meals Demonstrations

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice invites the general public and other public agencies to comment on this proposed information collection. This is a new collection for the Evaluation of the Direct Certification with Medicaid for Free and Reduced-Price Meals Demonstrations.

02/24/2017
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2016-0094 Offer Versus Serve and Family Style Meals in the Child and Adult Care Food Program

This memorandum outlines the use of offer versus serve in the adult day care and at-risk afterschool settings in the Child and Adult Care Food Program and the use of family style meals in the CACFP.

CACFP05-2017
12/09/2016
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2015-0033 Updated Offer vs Serve Guidance for the NSLP and SBP Beginning SY2015-16

Offer versus Serve is a provision in the NSLP and School Breakfast Program that allows students to decline some of the food offered. The goals of OVS are to reduce food waste in the school meals programs while permitting students to decline foods they do not intend to eat. 

SP41-2015
07/21/2015
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2013-0088 Attachments to SP12-2014: RFA for Participation in Demonstration Projects to Evaluate Direct Certification with Medicaid in SY 2014-15

FNS invites state agencies that administer the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program to apply to participate in demonstration projects that will evaluate the effectiveness of conducting direct certification with the Medicaid program.

12/06/2013
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2013-0069 Transmittal of Q&As on Computation of Direct Certification Performance Rate with SNAP

The attached Q&As are issued in follow-up to Policy Memorandum SP 50-2013, Release of the new state agency Direct Certification Rate Data Element Report.

SP54-2013
08/16/2013
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2013-0058 Release of the New State Agency Direct Certification Rate Data Element Report (Form FNS-834)

The Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 and the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act, as amended by the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010  require that children living in households receiving assistance under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program be directly certified for free school meals under the National School Lunch Program and/or the School Breakfast Program.

SP50-2013
07/01/2013
Resource | Guidance Documents | FNS-GD-2013-0020 Variations in Meal Requirements for Religious Reasons: Jewish Schools, Institutions and Sponsors

This instruction is intended to clarify allowable variations to child nutrition program food components in order to meet religious needs among Jewish schools, institutions and sponsors. 

783-13 Rev. 3
03/27/2013
Resource | Proposed Rule Proposed Rule: NSLP Direct Certification Continuous Improvement Plans Required by the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010

This rule proposes to amend NSLP regulations to incorporate provisions of the Healthy, Hunger- Free Kids Act of 2010 designed to encourage states to improve direct certification efforts with SNAP.

01/31/2012
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2011-0066 Direct Certification and Zero Benefit Households

Section 9(b)(12)(A)(i) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act restricts categorical eligibility for free school meals based on SNAP participation to children who are members of a household receiving assistance under SNAP. Therefore, a child who is a member of a household that is receiving “zero benefits” from SNAP is not categorically eligible for free meals, unless the child is categorically eligible for another reason.

SP03-2012
10/25/2011
Page updated: October 14, 2021