The Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-265), amended the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to require direct certification.  Each local educational agency (LEA) must directly certify children who are members of households receiving assistance under the Food Stamp Program as eligible for free school meals, without further application, based on information provided in an electronic data file from the Department of Human Services (DHS).  The direct certification requirement must be completed before each school year and applies to all LEAs that participate in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP). 

Beginning School Year 2009-10, a Direct Certification Report will be available for all school districts, including nonpublic schools through the Michigan Student Data System (MSDS)/Unique Identification Code Application.  Before the direct certification report is accessible, nonpublic schools participating in the NSLP must upload student enrollment data to the MSDS. This data upload must be completed before August 28, 2009, so the Center for Educational Performance (CEPI) can make the direct certification report available.   A webcast, " Direct Certification For School Year 09-10 Webcast (First Steps)" to assist you in completing the required student enrollment data upload process. 

The Direct Certification Report will match the student enrollment data that you have uploaded to the MSDS with data from DHS.  Matched students will be automatically certified as eligible for free school meals.  Each LEA must then notify these households that the children, as directly certified, are eligible for free benefits, no further application is necessary, and the household must notify the school if they do not want free school meal benefits for their children.  For more information, please refer to the Eligibility Guidance for School Meals Manual at http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/Guidance/default.htm.

Questions regarding the technical MSDS computer applications may be directed to CEPI Customer Support by e-mail to cepi@michigan.govor phone 517-335-0505 and select option "3."  Questions regarding the NSLP Direct Certification requirement may be directed to the School Nutrition Training and Programs unit by e-mail to  MDE-schoolnutrition@michigan.govor phone 517-373-3347.