Finding Text
Criteria: Prior to December 15 of each year, the school must verify the current free and reduced price eligibility of households selected from a sample of applicants that have already been approved. Applications considered error prone must be slected first for verification. Condition: No verification testing was performed. Applicants were selected, but no income documentation was submitted by the household. Those selected applicants were not designated as being selected for verification, and subsequently were not changed to receiving paid lunches from free or reduced lunches. No error prone applications were marked. One applicant's initial application noted the student qualified for reduced meals, but according to the USDA income guidelines, they actually qualified for free meals. Questioned Costs: None. Context: Expenditures from the Child Nutrition Cluster totaled $153,044 at June 30, 2023. In addition, eligibility for several other grants is based on the number of students eligible for free and reduced breakfasts and lunches. Effect: The District could provide benefits to ineligible children or provide insufficient benefits to eligible children. Cause: The District had ineffective controls in place for the eligibility determination of free and reduced applications. Recommendation: We recommend the District follow USDA guidelines for verification testing and income eligibility guidelines when making eligibility determinations of free and reduced breakfasts and lunches. Management's Response: The District will ensure the Food Service Director is completing the processes accurately and timely going forward.