The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Office for Food and Nutrition Programs (FNP) is required to report Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) direct certification match data on an annual basis. The data is needed to help calculate the state's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program SNAP direct certification rate, which is reported to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) through two state reports. United States Department of Agriculture USDA regulations require states to directly certify at least ninety-five (95) percent of school aged children in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program SNAP households.
To compute a state Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program SNAP match rate, direct certification data collected from Local Education Agencies (LEAs) to the State agency (SA) must be submitted to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Administration (FNA) on an annual basis including Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) and Provision 2 schools.
The October 1 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program SNAP Data Collection Report is now available and must be submitted to the State Agency no later than October 15th, annually. The direct certification data reported, must include any child in a household receiving assistance under Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program SNAP matched from July 1 – September 30th of the current school year. The report requires each Local Educational Agency LEA to submit all students matched through direct certification with a Free Exact Match Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program SNAP determination, reported by site. The Match Source column on the Match ID Report will identify students certified with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program SNAP.
File Upload Option (new this year): Included on the reporting page is an option to upload a file to populate the data into the report. Large districts capable of exporting data from their POS can find the instructions linked on the reporting page and are included in the attached guidance document.
The October 1 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program SNAP Data Collection Report can be found in the FY 27 Compliance Packet in the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education DESE Security Portal; the report is due October 15th, 2026. Failure to comply with the annual data reporting requirements may result in the temporary suspension of reimbursement claims.
For questions, please refer to the Help function within the October 1 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program SNAP Data Collection Report component in the Compliance Packet, in addition to contacting your School Nutrition Programs Department of Elementary and Secondary Education DESE Consultant.