Audit 377341

2025-001: Verification of Free & Reduced Price Applications (NSLP) – Child Nutrition Cluster (Assistance Listing No. 10.553 and 10.555) Criteria: Section 9(b)(3) of the National School Lunch Act and Federal Regulations at 7 CFR 245.6a(c)1 establish requirements for school districts in conducting verification of eligibility for free and reduced price meals based on applications in participating schools. Condition: Based on the above regulations, the District was required to verify a sample of 9 applications. However, only 7 applications were verified, but the District reported 9 applications as verified on the verification report submitted to Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.Cause: The District did not verify the required number of applications because staff misunderstood the federal verification process and associated sampling requirements.Effect: The District was not in compliance with the verification requirements.Questioned Costs: Unknown. To determine the questioned costs, we would need to determine the number of free or reduced meals consumed by students included on the two applications not verified. Because the verification was not performed, we could not determine the questioned costs.Recommendation: We recommend the District provide food service personnel with additional training on the federal verification process and sampling requirements to ensure the correct number of applications are selected and reviewed each year. A supervisory review should be implemented to confirm compliance before the verification report is finalized and submitted to Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.Fulton Public School District’s Response & Corrective Action Plan: The District will provide food service staff with additional training on the federal verification process and sampling requirements. The District will conduct an internal review, at least twice a year, of a sample of verifications to ensure it is meeting the verification requirements.Official Responsible for Ensuring Corrective Action Plan: Dr. Ty Crain, SuperintendentPlanned Completion Date for the Corrective Action Plan: Fiscal Year 2026