Next year (2022-2023 school year), breakfast and lunch will no longer be free for every student. Below, you will find information from a press release from the Utah State Board of Education about a new program to help families that may NOT be eligible for free or reduced meals but may need help to buy food for their kids' lunches. In order to even qualify for this new program (called P-EBT) you MUST apply for free or reduced lunch NOT LATER THAN MAY 6th.
It's also important to remember that our Title-1 Status is based on our Free and Reduced Lunch numbers, and we have been VERY CLOSE the last couple of years of losing this funding that goes towards some great programs for our kids, so even if you don't think that you will be eligible (or you might be, but you do home lunches instead) please apply anyway. You don't HAVE to use the benefit, but the numbers will help our school keep our Title 1 funding.
Here is the link to apply for free or reduced lunch through the school district: Apply for Free and Reduced-Price Meals
PRESS RELEASE:
Households Must Apply for Free or Reduced-price Lunch by May 6 To Be Eligible for Pandemic EBT
SALT LAKE CITY – Utah households will need to apply for free or reduced-price meal benefits with their local school no later than May 6 to be potentially eligible for pandemic EBT (P-EBT). P-EBT can help individuals purchase food if their children have temporarily lost access to free or reduced-price meals due to school closures from COVID-related emergencies, or other COVID-related school absences during the 2021-2022 school year. To qualify for P-EBT, individuals must be signed up for free or reduced-price school meals.
During the 2021-22 school year, all students, regardless of income status, can receive one free breakfast and one free lunch each day they attend school. However, this does not qualify students for P-EBT, nor does it automatically give students free-reduced status. To determine the free-reduced status of a student, individuals must apply through their school.
Individuals can find information on how to contact their local school at: https://www.uah.org/get-help/school-meals.
Please visit jobs.utah.gov/PEBT for more information on the P-EBT program.
https://schools.utah.gov/file/733d331f-c526-44bc-9ce8-d00587bc2c3e
Contact: Kimberly Loveland, child nutrition programs coordinator
801-538 7684 ∙ kimberly.loveland [at] schools.utah.gov (kimberly[dot]loveland[at]schools[dot]utah[dot]gov)
Becky Wickstrom, public information officer, Utah Department of Workforce Services
801-875-9696 ∙ bwickstrom [at] utah.gov (bwickstrom[at]utah[dot]gov)