ATTENTION:  CO-OP DIRECTORS; SUPERINTENDENTS; CHILD NUTRITION DIRECTORS; BUSINESS MANAGERS

The purpose of this memo is to inform local Districts of the approval of the 2021-22 Arkansas State Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) Plan by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and provide guidance for the implementation of the plan at the local level.  The State Plan is a joint effort between the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) and the Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS).  P-EBT benefits assist families by providing reimbursement for meals provided to children when students were absent from school due to a COVID related isolation/quarantine during the 2021-22 school year.

The State’s plan provides P-EBT benefits to SNAP and non-SNAP households with children who temporarily lost access to free or reduced-price school meals due to a COVID related isolation/quarantine. This plan will provide P-EBT benefits to students who: 1) qualify for free or reduced meal benefit and 2) were absent from school due to a COVID related isolation/quarantine. Students will qualify to receive P-EBT benefits if the answer is yes to both statement #1 and statement #2.  Parents should contact their child’s school, to complete an Arkansas Parent Initiated P-EBT Application, because the student qualifies for P-EBT benefits at a rate of $7.10 per day/days absent, due to a COVID related isolation/ quarantine.

Please follow this flowchart to find out if your child qualifies for P-EBT benefits.