P-EBT FAQs for school leaders and families

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Pandemic benefits FAQs for
schools and families

Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer (P-EBT) is a program that helps children who would have received free or reduced-price meals at school if not for the COVID-19 pandemic. Starting as soon as Friday, students who qualify will receive a debit card preloaded with funds that can be used for groceries. 

For the 2020-21 school year, schoolchildren must meet two important eligibility requirements: 

  • Children must have been enrolled in a school district that participates in a federal meal program where meals are served at a school, and 
  • Children must qualify for free or reduced-price meals based on income and have turned in the free or reduced-priced meals application to school for 2020-21, OR be enrolled in a school that participated in the Community Eligible Provision, Provision 2 or Provision 3 federal program in 2020-21. See a list of participating schools. 

There is no application process for these benefits. Families will receive benefits automatically if their school has identified to the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) that a student qualifies.  

To learn more about eligibility requirements, what role your school plays in the program, and other details about P-EBT, OSDE developed a set of Frequently Asked Questions. 

Please share these documents with your staff and your families.