Colorado schools can now use Medicaid data to identify students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals

School districts in Colorado will be able to use Medicaid eligibility to determine whether students qualify for free or reduced-price meals at school, the state’s Department of Education announced this week. 

Families who are identified via Medicaid enrollment data will no longer have to turn in a free or reduced-price meal application, reducing the number of applications schools will have to process. 

While Colorado schools will begin serving universal free meals this upcoming school year, the state is still asking families who qualify for free or reduced-price meals but do not participate in Medicaid to fill out and submit a meal application to make sure that districts don’t miss out on any federal funding or grant opportunities. 

The state is one of the latest chosen by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to participate in the direct-certification program. A total of 39 states now allow direct certification via Medicaid. 

“Colorado is fortunate to be chosen as one of the states to participate in the expansion of this project that will surely reduce the barriers and increase access to food for students,” Colorado Education Commissioner Katy Anthes said in a statement. “Research has shown that providing nutritious meals to students can provide a vast number of benefits, including higher academic achievement."