1. Eligibility updates
We will begin eligibility updates with Direct Certification. Actually there are no updates but I do want to review a few items that are always good to remember each year concerning Direct Certification.
Direct certification is the process under which LEAs certify children who are members of households receiving assistance under SNAP and TANF. Eligibility for free meal benefits is based on information provided by the state.
Eligibility for free meals is extended to all children in a household if any child has been identified through the direct certification process as eligible for benefits under SNAP or TANF.

2. Direct Certification SNAP/TANF Households
Mandatory
Method
Frequency
Direct certification is the process under which LEAs certify children who are members of households receiving assistance under SNAP, TANF. (THESE ARE FILL IN ANSWERS) Georgia recognizes SNAP and TANF. Eligibility for free meal benefits is based on information provided by the state or local agencies administering the programs without further application. In most situations, direct certification should not involve the household. The communication exchange should be between an appropriate agency and the SFA.
Eligibility for free meals is extended to all children in a household if any member has been identified through the direct certification process as eligible for benefits under the SNAP or TANF. These children are also considered directly certified. LEAs should take appropriate steps to identify children who are part of a family but were not identified through available means. Use of school district enrollment records may be used to identify additional children in the household. During the carryover period, categorical eligibility status is extended to any newly enrolled children who are members of a household with one or more members who were directly certified under assistance programs.
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MANDATORY - All LEAs must directly certify children who are members of households receiving SNAP benefits. Other benefits to School Systems: reduced number of applications to process, reduced the verification pool, basis for CEP (Community Eligibility Provision) 
METHOD OF DIRECT CERTIFICATION – You must use the direct certification lists that are provided by the STATE AGENCY (FILL IN). As these lists match students in your district with the DHR database of SNAP and TANF recipients. This list is available to you on the GaDOE portal.
FREQUENCY OF DIRECT CERTIFICATION pg LEAs must conduct direct certification with SNAP at least three times during the school year. More frequent direct certification efforts are permissible and encouraged. The efforts must be made:
• At or around the beginning of the school year (i.e., July 1);
• Three months after the beginning of the school year; and
• Six months after the beginning of the school year.
Last year we were able to provide DC list 3 times. Our goal is to increase that number. It is important to remember that using these lists is mandatory.
Subsequent direct certification efforts are required for children who were not initially directly certified and who are currently reduced price or paid. If the LEA has the capability, the status of any newly enrolled child must be checked for SNAP eligibility at the time of enrollment. If this is not possible, the household must be provided with an application so that the child’s benefits are not delayed until the next scheduled direct certification update.
If a student has been approved for free meal benefits by application and is later found to be directly certified, he/she should be changed to DC with the date noted.

3. Direct Certification SNAP/TANF Households
State Direct Certification List
Statewide Look-up
GO Screen/SUCCESS database
Extended Eligibles
You must use the direct certification lists that are provided by the State of Georgia.
In Georgia, we have several ways of directly certifying SNAP and TANF Households.
State Direct Certification List
Statewide Look-up
Go Screen/SUCCESS database
(WORKBOOK ANSWER) Students in the same household with a student who is directly certified

4. Direct Certification List
Available on SNO beginning in mid July
Matched List
Unmatched List
The first DC list is usually available in mid July but you should not use the State DC list on the portal until you receive notice from GaDOE that the new school year list is available. You should make every effort to match this list with your students BEFORE school starts.
There are two lists provided- MATCHED and UNMATCHED (answers).
If you save as an EXCEL file, you can sort by any parameter you choose.
Note that the grades and schools on this list are from the previous school year.
DATA file can be downloaded as an asci file and uploaded into application software.
Need to be careful to match the students on the list with your individual students. You should have at least 2 means of matching – name and address, GTID and name
A Matched File includes match school system student data to DHS files
An Unmatched File includes all other students from DHS files that reside in the boundaries of school system

5. Direct Certification List
DC List includes:
Student name, birth date, school, grade, address, GTID
Match students to enrolled students to directly certify for free meals
Matching may be manual, electronic or both
Need to be careful to match the students on the list with your individual students. You should have at least 2 means of matching – name and address, GTID and name

6. Another way to directly certify students is the use of the statewide look-up. You will find the statewide look-up on the portal. We will go through the steps to locate it on the portal and how to use it.

7. Free & reduced policy-Application
The 2017 edition of the Prototype Application for Free and Reduced Price School Meals, with accompanying instructions document and
letter to households is now available.
Activity: Stand up if you have already sent your application material to the printer. Lets give them a hand!

8. Free & reduced policy
Updated SY Prototype Application includes:
Application
Parent Letter
Instructions
Sharing of Information Form
Verification
We encourage you to use the prototypes to be sure you are complying with all of the current regulations. You must begin to use this application and materials on July 1, 2016.
This prototype was designed to make it easier for families to complete so they can provide accurate information.
The prototypes include the Application, Parent Letter and How to Apply, Sharing of Information Form and Verification documents; among others.
Lets take a moment to find the application in your workbook.

9. Free & reduced policy Updates to the current application:
Grade Field was added
“For School or District Use Only” Section Reintroduced
“Sources of Income” Charts added
Some parts of the application are new for Read the slide.
A field for each student’s grade has been added. Locate this field in Step 1 and highlight it.
The “For School or District Use Only” section has been reintroduced. You will find it on the back of the application as the last section.
Also note the “Sources of Income” chart for both children and adult income. Outline these charts with your highlighter.

10. Free & reduced policy Changes from last year:
Income Reporting in Whole Dollars
Separate Reporting for Children and Adults
Total Household Members Reporting Field
Many changes were made to the application last year. Lets review a few of those that continue to be a part of the 2017 application.
Income is reported in whole dollars. Underline the words “Whole Dollars” in the instructions on Step 3 Part B.
Income for children is reported separately from adult income. Highlight Child Income in Step 3 Part A.
The total number of household members has a reporting field. Locate the box where the total number of household members isreported and highlightit. It is at the bottom of Step 3 on left.

11. Free & reduced policy Social Security Number/Check if no SSN
Located in income area
Required to be located in income area for SY18
You may have noticed that the SSN field is in the income reporting area. Highlight the SSN field to flag this. Beginning in SY18, this will be required to be in the income area. For now, the location on the application is optional.

12. Free & reduced policy Request Applicant write a ZERO if no income
Blank income fields are processed as complete
All household applications for free and reduced price school meals must request that applicants write a zero when there is no income to report, but they may not require a separate indication of no income from the applicant, such as a check box or other fill-in field. Please look at the application in your workbook and highlight Step 3, B. 3rd sentence. Can I have a volunteer to read this for me?

13. Free & reduced policy SY 2017
The Race and ethnicity survey is required
The race and ethnicity section on the 2nd page of the application is required. It must be marked as optional because families are not required to complete it. Lets find that area on the application and highlight it.

14. Eligibility manual
Refer to the July 2015 edition of the Eligibility Manual for School Meals
Be sure to read the full section in the Eligibility manual for School meals for complete instructions on application processing and notification requirements. To date, the July 2015 is the most current version of the manual. The 2016 version should be released soon and you will receive an when it is.

15. Free & reduced policy- To do
Remember!
Changes to Prototype Application materials must be approved
Web-Based Application Checklist
Use CORRECT Non-Discrimination Statement ALWAYS
Read the slide and explain. Remember the non-discrimination statement was updated by USDA in October 2015.

16. Free & reduced policy
The 2017 revised free and reduced policy and document prototypes are available on our website.
Introduce the video for the Migrant Education Program.

17. Verification reminder
Find your non-response rate
Refer the participants to the Free & Reduced tab in their Preview Conference Book, page 37 to look up their non-response rate. This will tell them if they qualify for one of the alternate sample methods for verification.
Then direct them to the “Exempt from Verification in SY Required to Complete SFA Verification Summary Report. This is a list of SFAs that do not have to do verification in October 2016, but those SFAs must still complete the Verification Summary Report.

18. Usda non discrimination statement