HELENA – Superintendent Arntzen will open automatic enrollment for free and reduced-price school meals on July 1, 2023. Automatic enrollment, or direct certification, will use Medicaid data to determine student eligibility for free and reduced-price school meals. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service included Montana as one of 15 new states that will test the impact of Medicaid Direct Certification for the 2023-2024 school year.

“Montana is a proud innovator in a program to cut government waste,” said Superintendent Elsie Arntzen. “The Direct Certifica...