Pandemic P-EBT Info
Attention Parents:
P-EBT is a USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) program that provides food assistance benefits to pre-kindergarten through 12th grade (PK-12) children who have temporarily lost access to free or reduced priced school meals (FRL) due to instruction schedule changes and school closures related to COVID-19. The Families First Coronavirus Response Act of 2020, as amended by the Continuing Appropriation Act of 2021 and Other Extensions Act, extended and expanded the P-EBT program through the 2020-2021 school year. In Iowa, the Iowa Department of Human Services and the Iowa Department of Education will collaboratively administer this program.
To be an eligible student, a student must:
1. Attend an eligible school;
2. Be approved to receive free or reduced meals through the National School Lunch Program during the 2020-21 school year by having an approved free/reduced application, or being directly certified through Food Assistance, FIP, Foster Care, or Medicaid
3. Participate in a reduced learning schedule due to COVID-19 (i.e., hybrid or 100% virtual learning models). Students learning in-person 100% of the time may be eligible to receive benefits during virtual learning days (e.g., school closures due to high COVID-19 positivity rates).
Many households that normally qualify from an application didn’t apply this year due to breakfast and lunch meals being free for all students. For the purpose of P-EBT benefits, if a household completes a SY 2020-21 income eligibility application today and the child(ren) in the household are determined eligible for free or reduced-priced meals, the P-EBT benefits will be retroactive back to September.
With this quickly unfolding, we ask that any household that would qualify for free or reduced meals to fill out an application and return to any school or email to jsmith@north-cedarstu.org by Friday, April 16th. Our deadline to the State of Iowa is Wednesday, April 20th.
If you already qualify by Direct Cert or have already filled out a free/reduced application for the 2020-2021 school year, there is no need to fill out an application.
For more information, please visit: www.educateiowa.gov click on the COVID-19 tab on the bar at the top of the screen, and click on P-EBT Program.
For a free/reduced application, please visit our website at www.north-cedar.org then click on Departments, School Nutrition, scroll to the bottom right and find the 2020-2021 free and reduced application.
If you have any questions, please contact Jen Smith at jsmith@north-cedarstu.org or at 563-452-3179, ext 5.
Free Meals to All Students
Beginning on Monday, September 14, North Cedar Community School District will be providing breakfast and lunch to all students at no cost to them regardless of meal benefit status until further notice. No sign up is necessary for students who are in-person learning. All children participating in online learning and those not enrolled in school must sign up in order to receive meals. Meals will be available for pick up at Mechanicsville Elementary, Lowden Elementary, or Clarence Junior/Senior High School on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. Please see below for our free meal update and meal sign up.
Food Services Staff
Director of School Nutrition
Jen Smith
Phone: (563) 452-3179
Fax: (563) 452-3972
Federal Civil Rights Statement
The U.S. Department of Agriculture prohibits discrimination against its customers, employees, and applicants for employment on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender identity, religion, reprisal, and where applicable, political beliefs, marital status, familial or parental status, sexual orientation, or whether all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program or protected genetic information in employment or in any program or activity conducted or funded by the Department. (Not all prohibited bases will apply to all programs and/or employment activities.)
If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form found online or at any USDA office, or call (866) 632-9992 to request the form. You may also write a letter containing all of the information requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, or fax to 202-690-7442, or by email at program.intake@usda.gov.
Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339 or 800-845-6136 (Spanish).
