To: WISEdata Primary, Secondary, and Generic Contacts for Public and Choice schools
Date: 10/15/25
Subject: Economic Status and Food Services Eligibility Data for Dec. 9 Snapshot
Dear WISEdata Contacts,
The Department of Public Instruction (DPI) would like to provide guidance for the submission of Economically Disadvantaged Status and Food Services Eligibility data. We want to clarify reporting of these data points prior to the collection of the data in the December 9 snapshot.
It is always imperative to review your Economically Disadvantaged Status and Food Services eligibility data prior to any snapshot and for all years included in the snapshot (prior year and current year). This data is used for many purposes and programs, including public reporting via WISEdash Public, EDFacts federal reporting, School and District Report Card scores, E-rate, Achievement Gap Reduction program, and Federal Teacher Loan Forgiveness program, among others.
Schools should obtain and submit the most up-to-date values to WISEdata for both the Economically Disadvantaged Status and Food Services Eligibility data elements for the 2025-26 school year. For all students, these two data elements should be submitted to WISEdata, reviewed in WISEdash for Districts (public LEAs only), and deemed complete and accurate prior to the December 9, 2025, WISEdata snapshot. For students attending schools that participate in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), the only valid Food Services Eligibility values are free, reduced, or paid. Both the Economically Disadvantaged Status and Food Services Eligibility data elements must be kept up to date for current students and submitted for newly enrolled students on a regular basis for the remainder of the school year.
Schools participating in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) should continue to conduct Direct Certification and distribute and process Free and Reduced Price Meal Applications. A full enrollment Direct Certification run is required to be conducted four times per school year for pricing (non-CEP) schools, per the Calendar of Program Requirements, but best practice is to run it at least monthly, if not weekly.
Schools participating in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) should continue to conduct Direct Certification as required twice per year and distribute the Alternate Household Income Form (Spanish) (Hmong) to households to gather socioeconomic data from households that may not be eligible via Direct Certification.
Schools that do not participate in the National School Lunch Program are still expected to determine Economically Disadvantaged Status using the Alternate Household Income Form (Spanish) (Hmong). Schools not participating in the National School Lunch Program must report Food Services Eligibility Status as Unknown. Other valid options are explained in option 3 of How to Determine Economic Status for the DPI Economically Disadvantaged Type.
For more information on reporting Economically Disadvantaged Status data, review the e-learning module. If you have questions or need assistance, please submit a help ticket.
Thank you,
DPI Partner Support