OLGT 2017-104 - DESE Direct Certification for Meal Programs

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in conjunction with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and Local Education Agencies (LEAs) work together to provide nutritious meals to low-income students. DTA and DESE collaborate to exchange data identifying children in households that receive SNAP and/or TAFDC assistance who attend public schools. This exchange of data is known as direct certification. As part of the direct certification data exchange process, eligible families receive a notice from the Department in the summer to advise about the Summer Food Service Program and fall that informs their eligibility for free and/or reduced school meals programs. These notices are available in the Document History in each eligible family’s Electronic Case Folder (ECF).