Ohio Selected as One of 14 States to Participate in School Meals Demonstration Project Enabling Direct Certification Through Medicaid

Last month, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) announced that Ohio and 13 other states were selected to participate in the expansion of a demonstration project to evaluate the impact of using Medicaid eligibility data to directly certify students for free and reduced-price school meals. The newest round of this demonstration creates an important opportunity to further test the impact of Medicaid Direct Certification, which was first initiated through the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010. 

The direct certification process makes it easier for children from low-income households to receive free and reduced-price school meals. Historically, most students who receive free or reduced-price school meals have been certified based on information they submit in an application. Families can also be deemed eligible because they participate in one of a few benefit programs, like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. Adding Medicaid to the list of benefit programs that can ‘directly certify’ a student to receive free or reduced-price meals is a win-win for students, families, and school officials.

“Nutritious meals are an integral part of each instructional day for students. Direct certification works to ensure children in need aren’t mistakenly left behind,” said FNS Midwest Regional Administrator, Dr. Vista Suarez Fletcher. “It means less paperwork for families and fewer school meal applications for school districts to process and verify.”

Some children miss out on free and reduced-price school meals because their families don’t know to complete an application, or there may be a language barrier in the application process. Adding Medicaid to the host of programs available for direct certification increases equity by eliminating these barriers and ensuring eligible children don’t fall through the gaps.

Since school year 2012-2013, USDA has authorized demonstration projects allowing states to test direct certification with Medicaid. Thirty-nine states are now participating in these projects. 

The Biden Administration is committed to expanding direct certification opportunities and certifying more eligible children for free and reduced-price meals without an application. For more information, visit the FNS webpage on Direct Certification.