Evaluation of Demonstrations of NSLP and SBP Direct Certification of Children Receiving Medicaid Benefits: Year 1 Report

The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (PL 111-296) required the USDA Food and Nutrition Service to conduct a demonstration that adds Medicaid to the list of programs used to directly certify students for free school meals. Although students receiving Medicaid are not categorically eligible for free meals, the DC-M demonstration authorizes selected states and districts to use income information from Medicaid files to directly certify those students found to be eligible for free meals.

The Year 1 Report presents the preliminary impacts of DC-M on participation and cost for the first year of the demonstrations, SY 2012-13.