Students on the Direct Certification Report are automatically certified as eligible for free school meals.  Each LEA must notify households with matched students that they are eligible for free school meals and no further application is necessary. If the household wants to decline the free school meals benefit they must notify the school. For more information, please refer to the Eligibility Guidance for School Meals Manual at  http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/Guidance/default.htm .

Beginning with School Year 2011-2012, the Direct Certification Report must be pulled at a minimum three times during the school year:

• At or around the beginning of the school year;
• Three months after the initial effort; and
• Six months after the initial effort.

The Center for Educational Performance and Information (CEPI) will refresh the Direct Certification report monthly.  MDE encourages schools to pull the Direct Certification monthly to ensure all students eligible are receiving proper meal benefits.  The Direct Certification Report Timeline for School Year 2011-2012 is available at:   http://www.michigan.gov/cepi/0,4546,7-113-986_50502_53828---,00.html .

For more information on the requirements for pulling the Direct Certification Report go to the USDA memo, Frequency of Direct Certification Matching Activities Beginning in School Year 2011-2012 available at:  http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/governance/Policy-Memos/2011/SP31-2011.pdf   Foster Children are now identified on the Direct Certification Report:

The Direct Certification Report in the MSDS has been modified to identify foster children. There is now a column on the Direct Certification Report called "Foster Child". 

• One asterisk in this column identifies the student as a foster child. Local educational agencies cannot extend categorical eligibility to additional children in the household.
• Two asterisks in this column identify the student as a foster child and as a member of a household receiving assistance under the Food Assistance Program. Categorical eligibility can be extended to additional children in the household because of Food Assistance Program participation.   
• No asterisk in this column means the student is only a member of a household receiving assistance under the Food Assistance Program.  Categorical eligibility can be extended to additional children in the household. 

Direct Certification for Non-Public Schools:

Before the Direct Certification Report is accessible, nonpublic schools participating in the NSLP must upload student enrollment data to the MSDS. A webcast Direct Certification for School Year 2011-2012 First Steps, is available at:  http://mediasite.mihealth.org/mediasite/Viewer/?peid=79ee224d69d2451fa59c3a993a4af7f51d

For more detailed instruction on how to upload nonpublic school student enrollment, CEPI has the Direct Certification Report User's Guide -Nonpublic Schools is available at:   http://www.michigan.gov/cepi/0,4546,7-113-986_50502_53828---,00.html

Questions regarding the technical MSDS computer applications may be directed to CEPI Customer Support by e-mail to  cepi@michigan.gov  or phone 517-335-0505 and select option "3." 

Questions regarding the National School Lunch Program Direct Certification requirement may be directed to the School Nutrition Programs unit by e-mail to  MDE-schoolnutrition@michigan.gov or phone 517-373-3347.