LAMAR SCHOOL DISTRICT

The deadline for P-EBT application submittal was the 29^th of July.  We  are no longer able to take P-EBT applications due to our own deadline for submitting the information to the state. Thanks for your understanding!

Cafeteria Website Link                         22-23 Electronic Meal Application Link EZMealApp

The information below is to help you decide if you want to complete an application. You need to be aware that you must complete an application attesting that you don’t have issue with your information or your students information being shared with DHS. Application Deadline to be received by the Lamar School District is 7/29/22.

Frequently Asked Questions (email questions to katie.kersey@lamarwarriors.org)

Q. What date/dates was my student absent due to COVID last year?

A. Each application has been pre-dated with the dates Lamar was providing virtual learning due to Covid. If your student was absent due to Covid isolation/quarantine, the school will be adding those days to each student’s P-EBT form once the application is returned to the district.

Arkansas Commissioner’s Memo (Read Complete Memo Here)

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.

7/13/2022

Does Your Student Qualify for P-EBT

You should be receiving a letter in the mail by the end of the week, if your student is eligible for a P-EBT card.. If you meet the following criteria and do not receive a letter, please complete the application on the front page of the Lamar website before 7/29/2022.

P-EBT Instructions for Parents

1. Consider whether your student(s) qualifies for P-EBT benefits:
   1. Was my student eligible for  free/reduced status?
      1. I was approved for free or reduced meal benefits based on approval of a free/reduced meal application OR
      2. My child qualifies through direct certification (SNAP eligible) OR

AND

2. Was my student absent due to a COVID-19 isolation or quarantine?
   1. All students were virtual therefor absent on Jan 12-14, 18-19, and 21st. 

2. If the answer is yes to BOTH of the questions (a and b) above, your student qualifies and you must complete an application to be eligible. 
3. Return/submit the completed application (either via google form or paper application) to your child’s school by July 29, 2022. 
4. Await processing and receipt of P-EBT card (could be a several weeks)

Below is a copy of the letter we sent home to anyone that might qualify for P-EBT

(7/14/2022)

Dear Parent/Guardian,

Pandemic-EBT (P-EBT) is a federal program designed to provide food support to families with children who were receiving free and reduced-price school meals and missed school for COVID-related absences. It can help families pay for food when students are absent from school due to a COVID-19 related isolation/quarantine. The Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), in collaboration with the Department of Human Services (DHS), received approval to operate this program in response to the COVID-19 related school closures for school year 2021-22. 

To be eligible a student must:

• Qualify for free and reduced priced meal, AND

• Have been absent from school due to COVID-19 isolation/quarantine 

**Benefits are allowed only on planned school calendar days. Benefits are not allowed on weekends or holidays.

For students whose instruction choice was in-person, the households are being sent this letter by the  Lamar School District. Enclosed you will find an application and self-addressed envelope so you can complete and return the provided Arkansas Parent-Initiated P-EBT Application.  The school district will verify the absences, approve the application, and submit the student’s information to DESE. DESE will provide a file for DHS to process the benefit. 

Each application has been pre-dated with the dates Lamar was providing virtual learning (Due to COVID) to all students. The AMI days that were used due to COVID are eligible for the P-EBT, however, the AMI days due to inclement weather are not! You must submit an electronic or paper application to receive any benefits!

Anticipated timeline: Must Be Submitted by July 29th 2022

• June 23, 2022 – July 29, 2022– Household to complete the application process and submit to the district

• July 29, 2022 - August 12, 2022 – District to consolidate collected student information and submit spreadsheet to DESE

If you have questions or need help email Katie Kersey at katie.kersey@lamarwarriors.org.

Sincerely,

Katie Kersey

Human Service Worker

Lamar School District 

______________

USDA Non-Discrimination Statement

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA. 

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: https://www.usda.gov/oascr/how-to-file-a-program-discrimination-complaint, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: 

(1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture 

      Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 

      1400 Independence Avenue, SW 

       Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; 

(2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or 

(3) email: program.intake@usda.gov.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.