An easier, more direct method of validating a student’s eligibility for free school meals under the National School Lunch Program may mean more low-income children may receive them, according to a study conducted by Abt Associates. The two-year study involved Abt’s evaluation of the feasibility and effectiveness of verifying families’ school meal applications using information they have already submitted to Medicaid. The research, commissioned by USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service, involved interviews with State Child Nutrition & Medicaid Agencies in six states; telephone forums with 15 Local Education Agencies (LEAs) across four states; and surveys of 79 LEAs.  In assessing the value of direct verification, Abt considered its impact on administrative burdens and costs to school districts; the privacy of parents or guardians who may not be comfortable answering intrusive questions; and finally, the potential effect of direct verification to keep thousands of eligible children from slipping through the cracks each year and losing meal benefits because of the lack of verification paperwork.