The Direct Certification/Exempt utility allows users to process Direct Certification or Exempt students using a data file from your state agency, match student data from your SIS system, update statuses and extend benefits where appropriate.
Direct Certification/Exempt import saves administrative time and may identify students who would otherwise not apply.
(However, you can also enter direct certified and exempt students manually, under New Application.)
It will create one direct certified or exempt application for each active student (status 2, 3 or 4) in your Meals Plus Student table that matches a student in the Direct Cert or Exempt file.
If a matched student already has a lunch application on file, but they are not Direct Certified or Exempt, it will update that student to be Direct Certified or Exempt.
Direct Certification includes students who are SNAP, TANF, Medicaid, Medicaid-Reduced or FDPIR recipients and are approved for free meals without requiring the parent to fill out an application. Additionally, direct certified students are exempt from verification.
Exempt refers to Other Source Categorical Eligible in the USDA’s Eligibility Manual for School Meals: Determining and Verifying Eligibility and are students exempt for verification because they are a foster child, have a homeless, migrant or runaway status, or are head start students. Exempt student’s benefits do not extend to other students in the household.
