What is direct certification for free meals?
Direct certification is a simplified method of determining some childrens eligibility for free meals under the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs, or for free milk under the Special Milk Program without having the family complete a household application. The School Food Authority (SFA) submits documentation to the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) which in turn is matched with Department of Human Services data. The resulting report enables SFA to determine the children who are members of households currently certified to receive food stamps or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). This process is conducted twice a year in June and August. Direct certification can be accomplished by: • SFA submits to the Division of Nutrition Programs and Education Services, information for students enrolled. The data are submitted on a magnetic tape, magnetic cartridge, or diskette. • The data for all SFAs participating are transferred to a master computer file. • The
