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Start planning early!  Allow yourself enough time to complete the verification process by the required deadline.

Verification efforts are not required for:

  • Residential childcare institutions (RCCIs), with the exception of RCCIs with day students, where eligible students must complete an application
  • Schools in which all students are served without a separate charge for food services and the school claims only paid reimbursement
  • Schools that do not have any free or reduced-price eligible students
  • Schools participating in the Special Milk Program, even if they offer free milk
  • Schools in non-base years of Provision 2. They must, however, conduct the Direct Certification Matching Process (DCMP) and report SNAP and Medicaid Direct Certification eligibility annually.
  • Schools operating in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). They must, however, conduct DCMP and report SNAP and Medicaid Direct Certification eligibility annually.
  • New SFAs who begin participation in a Child Nutrition Program after October 1 do not need to complete the verification process in their first year of operation only.
Last updated
September 23, 2022

USDA Nondiscrimination Statement

In accordance with federal civil rights law and USDA civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its agencies, offices, employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the state or local agency that administers the program or contact USDA through the Telecommunications Relay Service at 711 (voice and TTY). Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at How to File a Program Discrimination Complaint and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:

  1. Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Mail Stop 9410, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;
  2. Fax: (202) 690-7442; or
  3. Emailprogram.intake@usda.gov.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

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