Starting this month, more Arkansas students will receive free or reduced-price school meals as part of Direct Certification with Medicaid. With this program, families no longer need to submit an application if their child qualifies through Medicaid- schools will automatically enroll eligible students for meal benefits under the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP).
Here’s how it works:
Students in Medicaid households with income below 130% of the Federal Poverty Level will be automatically approved for free meals.
Students in Medicaid households with income between 130% and 185% of the Federal Poverty Level will be automatically approved for reduced-price meals.
These determinations are made using secure data matching and apply only to the individual student. Siblings or other household members may still need to be reviewed separately if they are not covered by Medicaid.
Families will be notified in writing if their child is directly certified for meal benefits through Medicaid. No action is required unless a family wants to appeal or provide additional information.
This program helps ensure that students have access to the meals they need to stay focused, healthy, and ready to learn—all without requiring families to fill out additional paperwork.
Questions?
Contact Sheila Roughton
Child Nutrition Director
479-787-4100
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