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:
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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.
 ACT Streamlines Accommodations Eligibility Requirements for Students with IEPs, 504 Plans Policy Change for 2021-22 School Year Expedites Process to Save Educators, Families, Students Time
IOWA CITY, Iowa—ACT, the nonprofit developer of the ACT test, today announced plans to increase accessibility to the ACT test for students with disabilities by streamlining accommodations eligibility requirements. ACT will approve allowable accommodations already included in students’ Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) or 504 plans.
Beginning with the 2021-22 testing year, students who already receive accommodations at their school under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act will automatically be eligible to receive the allowable testing accommodations when they register for the ACT with accommodations.
The IDEA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act contain rigorous requirements that public schools must follow in determining who is an eligible student with a disability and what accommodations eligible students need to access their education. This includes what accommodations are needed to access classroom and standardized tests, like the ACT test.
“Students with disabilities already face many barriers in their lives, and we don’t want the accommodations process for taking the ACT to be one of them,” said ACT CEO Janet Godwin. “This policy change simplifies and expedites the process for requesting accommodations, so that students can focus on learning all that they can in school and showing what they know on test day.”
In conjunction with the policy change, ACT is updating its system for requesting accommodations to require less information and documentation to support requests submitted on behalf of students with a current IEP or 504 plan.
“By aligning to a standard that is already applied in schools where the majority of our students with accommodations are learning, we simplify and expedite the process for students, families, and educators,” said ACT Senior Director of Accessibility Katie Featherston.
While this change benefits the majority of students who test with accommodations, ACT will continue to offer accommodations to test-takers who do not have a current IEP or 504 plan. The organization will continue to use the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standard to determine whether there is a “physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a major life activity” and whether the requested accommodations are reasonable for the ACT test.
More information about the Policy Change and Process for Requesting Accommodations.
The Summary of Performance (SOP) compiles all the information and data that a
local educational agency (LEA) has collected on a student and summarizes it into
one document. The key word is “summary.” The intent of the SOP is to provide crucial
information to those assisting the student in reaching their postsecondary goals by
providing them with a document that profiles the student. A well-written SOP can
contribute to the student’s seamless transition to adulthood.
Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) help students with disabilities get an early start in identifying career interests to achieve community integration, independence, post-secondary education, and/or competitive integrated employment.
See Pre-ETS Fact Sheet for more information.
OSDE sponsored events, professional development, and conferences are beneficial to special education teachers and staff. Additionally, Project 613 does not have a deadline to submit an application. Districts can submit an application at any time.
Please Note: All upcoming activities and events are subject to being rescheduled, canceled, or move to an online format. Information about any changes will be posted to the listserv.
The Oklahoma State Department of Education Special Education Services Division and the Office of School Safety and Security are offering Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) training for small and rural school districts across the state. Districts may register up to 4 staff members to participate in the 2-day training. All participants must attend both days of the training session.
The Nonviolent Crisis Intervention® program is a safe and effective behavior management system designed to help educators provide the best Care, Welfare, Safety, and Security for students in distress. This training is designed to equip school staff members with tools to use in crisis prevention and de-escalation techniques and physical interventions.
When: October 13, 2021 from 12:00-2:00PM
Charting the LifeCourse is a framework developed to help individuals with disabilities and families at any age or stage of life think about what they need to know, identify how to find or develop supports, and discover what it takes to live the lives they want to live. Participation packets will be mailed prior to the presentation.
Save the Date!
October 26 - October 28
Mapping the Future of Transition!
Join us for three days of sharing, learning, networking and planning.
This event will be virtual!
For more information and questions, please contact Yolanda Scott or Jennifer Randle.
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