The direct certification process is used by the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) to notify school districts of students who can be approved for free school meals based on Minnesota  Department of Human Services (DHS) data, without any application from the family for school meal benefits. The DHS data identifies children who are automatically eligible for free school meals because they have already been approved for participation in Food Stamps or the Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP).

Public schools receive direct certification data several times each year and are required to use the data to certify students for meal benefits. A nonpublic school that participates in the National School Lunch Program may obtain direct certification data by uploading the school's student enrollment data using the CLiCS system (which is where the direct certification reports are located).

• Procedures for Direct Certification 
  Instructions for schools accessing direct certification data for School Nutrition Programs.
• Notification Letter 
  Sample letter used to notify households of direct certification approval for school meals for the School Nutrition Programs.
• File Format for Direct Certification Data 
  File format used to interpret the data file available to School Nutrition Programs sponsors when accessing direct certification data in CLiCS.