New Resource: Strategies for Improving Direct Certification Most school districts can take additional steps to increase the number of students they certify to receive free school meals without submitting a school meal application. Strong direct certification processes are a win-win for school districts and low-income families, as they: - Improve the financial viability of implementing the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) by yielding higher reimbursement rates. Current CEP schools can also increase their reimbursement rates by improving direct certification.
- Reduce administrative work for school districts by decreasing the number of meal applications (and individual household income forms in CEP schools) that you need to collect, process, and verify.
- Ensure access to free school meals for the most vulnerable students.
There is uncertainty if federal waivers will be in place for the 2022-2023 school year that allow schools to provide free school meals for all students. In anticipation to school meals going back to standard counting and claiming, schools can be proactive by improving their local direct certification practices to ease the transition and potentially extend free meals for all kids through CEP. Check out Hunger Solutions New York’s new direct certification resource to identify and implement strong direct certification processes in your district here. |
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Register for Thursday's Direct Certification Webinar Direct Certification: Best Practices Looking Ahead to 2022
Thursday, January 20, 3 p.m. As schools and districts prepare their nutrition operations for the 2022-2023 school year, now is the time to revisit the importance of direct certification. Strong direct certification helps schools improve the financial viability of community eligibility, reduce administrative work, and ensure access to free school meals to the most vulnerable students. Join the Food Research and Action Center to discuss helpful tips and best practices for improving direct certification. |
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Help Advocate for Child Nutrition Waiver Extensions With critical child nutrition waivers set to expire on June 30, 2022, the Food Research and Action Center is working with national, state, and local partners to gather and share stories about the impacts of the waivers to make sure lawmakers understand the importance of extending USDA’s waiver authority. Share how the waivers have helped your school or organization reach kids during the pandemic, and why continued flexibilities are needed. Learn more and share your story here. |
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ICYMI: December Resource Round-up Hunger Solutions New York and No Kid Hungry New York released a newsletter filled with the latest resources. Check out the “Child Nutrition Year-End Resource Round-Up” in case you missed it! |
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