Data Matching in the National School Lunch Program: Approaches to Direct Certification and Direct Verification. Guide for State and Local Agencies

摘要

This guide describes the state of the art in procedures for NSLP direct certification and direct verification. Different types of systems may be used for these purposes. This guide describes specific choices in designing these systems, and suggests methods of improving system efficiency and effectiveness. It is a resource for State and local agencies seeking to implement, expand, or improve systems for certifying and verifying children eligible for NSLP benefits. In particular, this guide addresses methods of designing and improving data matching systems for direct certification and direct verification. We use data matching to refer to computerized methods of matching student records with records from other public programs to certify or verify NSLP eligibility. Data may be matched at the State or local level, and matches may be done in batches or interactively. Data matching eliminates paper-based application and verification processes, which are labor-intensive and subject to human error.