DIRECT CERTIFICATION AND
VERIFICATION SYSTEM

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DIRECT CERTIFICATION

Direct Certification identifies children who are eligible for free meals through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) because their households are approved for Food Nutritional Services (FNS), formerly referred to as Food Stamp Program, or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). SFAs can certify these students as eligible based on FNS and TANF information and thereby eliminate manual applications for meal benefits.

SFAs shall download the matched file monthly and import the file into their local Child Nutrition Systems.


Getting Started

Obtain your NCID

How to Subscribe to CNDCV
(pdf, 208kb | mov, 10.8mb)


How to Log In/Out of CNDCV
(pdf, 331kb | mov, 7.0mb)


Overview and Navigating the CNDCV System
(pdf, 772kb)


Obtaining Direct Certification Data

How to Download Matched Students from CNDCV
(pdf, 497kb | mov, 11.7mb)


Upload Students to DCV for Match Using Template
(pdf, 552kb)


Upload Students Template (Excel)
(xls, 45kb)


DIRECT VERIFICATION

This is an annual process that occurs October 1 - November 15 each year. The purpose of the Direct Verification programs is to verify eligibility for free and reduced-price meals under the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) without directly contacting the student’s household. The Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004 (P.L. 108-265) permits direct verification of school meal applications based on data from the Food and Nutrition Services (FNS), formerly the Food Stamp Program, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and Medicaid programs.

To verify free meals, use FNS and TANF records. To verify reduced meals, use Medicaid data where the household income does not exceed 185% of poverty.

Training Resources will be available soon.