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SNP Verification Materials

School Nutrition Programs (SNP) verification materials including applications, forms, and materials for the annual, mandatory verification process for eligibility of a sample of completed household meal eligibility applications.

Verification Process

Verification is the annual, mandatory process that confirms the eligibility of a sample of completed household meal eligibility applications in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs. Each school food authority (SFA) must select and verify a sample of applications approved for free and reduced-price meal benefits. The required sample size of applications to be verified is based on the number of approved applications on file on October 1. Each SFA must complete verification of the minimum required sample size by November 15. The verification process must substantiate eligibility based on monthly income or current participation in the CalFresh Program, California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs), or the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR). SFAs may use the Worksheet to Determine Verification Sample Size (DOC) and Verification Results/Findings by Individual Student (DOC) to meet the requirements of federal Administrative Reviews (AR).

SFAs operating Universal Meals must still complete the verification process if they are using standard meal counting and claiming procedures. Please note, the verification requirements outlined on this web page are specific to the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs. Verification requirements for SUN Bucks are separate and more information on these requirements can be found on the CDE SUN Bucks web page.

In January of each year, all SFAs must submit a Verification Report. See Verification Reporting on the School Nutrition Programs Verification Reporting web page for information on the annual verification report.

Verification process forms may be downloaded as one complete file or individually.

Verification Packet

Training Videos

The Nutrition Services Division (NSD) has created two training videos to assist SFAs in completing both the mandatory verification process and reporting. The Verification Process and the Verification Reporting training videos are accessible through the NSD Learning Site. SFAs must complete a self-registration process before taking the training course. After registering, enter Verification in the search field to be directed to the verification trainings. For help completing the self-registration process, please download the LMS Reg 001 – LMS Account Self-Registration Access for Child Nutrition Program Operators Job Aid located in the Child Nutrition Information and Payment System (CNIPS) Download Forms section. If you need assistance or have questions regarding registration, please email NSDLearning@cde.ca.gov.

Individual Forms

Documents to send to the Household

For SFAs operating Universal Meals, verification letter templates are also located in the Download Forms section of the CNIPS, Form IDs Verification – 01, 02, and 03. These templates tell households that, regardless of the result of the verification process, all students will still have access to free meals at their school.

School Nutrition Program Verification Materials

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Verification Materials

Contact Information

If you have questions about the verification process, please contact the School Nutrition Programs Unit by email at SNPInfo@cde.ca.gov.

Questions:   Nutrition Services Division | 800-952-5609
Last Reviewed: Tuesday, September 9, 2025
Related Content
  • School Nutrition
    Meal and milk programs offered at public and private non-profit schools and residential child care institutions.
  • School Nutrition Programs Eligibility
    Each school year, local educational agencies must determine and certify a student’s eligibility to qualify for free and reduced-price meals or free milk benefits.
  • Verification Reporting
    Instructions for school food authorities (SFA) on submitting the verification collection report through the Child Nutrition Information and Payment System (CNIPS) using the verification report function.
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