Direct Certification (DC) 

Direct certification is a provision of the National School Lunch Act that allows school districts to automatically qualify children receiving benefits under Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF, or California Work Opportunity and Responsibility for Kids (CalWORKs), Food Stamp Program (FSP), or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservation (FDPIR) for free and reduced price meals without requiring individual applications. 

Reports and Testimony

Outreach Materials

Official Notices and Management Bulletins

Sample Letters and Mailing Labels

Statistics and Research

Reports and Testimony

CFPA Testimony before the US House Education Committee, Subcommitee on Healthy Families and Communities

In October 2009, CFPA's Matt Sharp was invited to a House hearing on child nutrition programs in which he provided testimony on strengthening and expanding direct certification.

Click here for the testimony.

There IS such a thing as a Free Lunch: Effective direct certification and direct verification to ensure adequate nutrition for California's children (CFPA, March 2009)

We hope that this paper may serve as an informative guide for administrators and advocates at the district,county, state and federal level looking to enroll more children in school meals with less paperwork. By understanding the process and barriers to fulfilling its full potential, we can all collaborate to ensure that children are not missing out on the important nutrition they need.

Executive Summary

Full Report

Outreach Materials

• Getting Started With Direct Certification   A detailed guide to setting up direct certification

• Direct Certification Fact Sheet   Background information on Direct Certification, how it works, the benefits, and more

• Best Practices Key components of a successful direct certification process

• Peer Advisors   List of individuals using direct certification who are available to answer your questions

• How County Welfare Offices Can help  How county welfare offices can set up direct certification in their counties

• Benefits of Direct Certification  Summary of the benefits of direct certification has to offer

• Frequently Asked Questions  Commonly asked questions and their answers

• Parent Notices  County welfare offices can help make sure qualified children receive free meals at school by notifying parents of their eligibility when they enroll for or receive benefits.

• Small School Districts: California's smaller school districts are taking advantage of direct certification. Read how the benefits of direct certification can apply to small school districts as well.
• Overcoming Common Barriers

   

Official Notices and Management Bulletins

• CA Department of Education (CDE) Management Bulletin on Direct Certification  

• Direct Certification Checklist and Policy Statement Addendum 

• Dept. of Social Services Official Notice on Direct Certification  An All-County Information Notice from DSS

Sample Letters and Mailing Labels

• Letter to Food Stamp Program Managers

• Sample Letter to School Districts

• Department of Social Services Food Stamp Program Managers  A list of individuals who can help school districts obtain data for direct certification

• California School Districts Not On Direct Certification A list of school districts with contact information

• Mailing labels for Non DC School Districts

Statistics and Research

• USDA study of Direct Certification in the National School Lunch Program, Office of Analysis, Nutrition and Evaulation  

• California Statistics on Direct Certification for 2000-2001 The status of direct certification in California

• Free/Reduced Price Meal and CalWORKs Participation by School and District

For additional information,  please contact Matt Sharp, Senior Advocate, at (213) 482-8200 or matt@cfpa.net.