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This is the second of two
reports on Arizona’s participation in the NSLP. The first report provided a
statewide overview of NSLP and the program’s demographics. This report
describes the program’s operation at seven schools selected to represent a
cross-section of Arizona schools. In particular, this report describes
results of eligibility verification for 100 percent of approved NSLP
applications at the seven schools. On average, their school districts
reported 35 percent of the sample schools’ students as eligible for free or
reduced-price meals. However, auditors found that 27 percent of the approved
applications were incomplete or missing and should not have been approved.
Further, based on income documentation, 43 percent of students were eligible
for their approved level of meal benefits, 14 percent were not eligible or
were eligible for reduced benefits, and 1 percent was eligible for increased
benefits. Another 41 percent of students lost meal benefits because their
households did not respond to verification. Overall, the results of 100
percent verification reduced the seven schools’ percentage of eligible
students from 35 percent to 22 percent.
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