Ohio students to qualify for free, reduced meals through Medicaid

COLUMBUS – Beginning with the 2023-2024 school year, Ohio students in households that receive Medicaid will automatically qualify for free or reduced-price school meals.

The change was made after the U.S. Department of Agriculture selected Ohio to participate in the Direct Certification with Medicaid Demonstration Project.

Direct certification with Medicaid uses existing data to certify children for free or reduced-price meals without an additional application. According to the Ohio Department of Education, the program will “ensure more students receive a school meal.”

“Nutritious meals are an integral part of each instructional day for students. Direct certification works to ensure children in need aren’t mistakenly left behind,” said Food and Nutrition Service Midwest Regional Administrator Dr. Vista Suarez Fletcher. “It means less paperwork for families and fewer school meal applications for school districts to process and verify.”

The Ohio Department of Education estimates that, as of October 2022, 677,688 children qualify for free or reduced meals. For many years, Ohio has been directly certifying students for free meals if their household received SNAP benefits or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families.

This article was written by Nate Hinners. Contact Nate at nhinners@huroninsider.com.

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