The Department of Education says the state has received approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to help feed as many as 611,430 students during the coronavirus pandemic.
Under the new Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) program, families of children who normally receive free or reduced-price meals at school may get financial assistance to replace those meals.
All Louisiana public school and many non-public school facilities have been closed since March 16 because of the pandemic.
P-EBT benefits will be provided to households that apply if they include children who were in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade and have temporarily lost access to free or reduced-price school meals, according to the Louisiana Department of Education (LDE) and the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS).
These benefits are intended to cover 50 school days, from the onset of statewide school facility closures through the end of the 2019-20 academic year.
"This might be the only way some of our most vulnerable children can obtain a nutritious breakfast or lunch," Edwards said. "They used to receive these meals at school, and now Louisiana can provide that benefit at home, too."
"Louisiana is grateful to Congress, President Donald Trump and Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue for making this benefit available and speeding its implementation," Edwards said. "We look forward to feeding Louisiana families in these trying times."
Louisiana had an estimated 611,430 children eligible for free and reduced-price breakfast or lunch this spring, about 85 percent of all students in pre-kindergarten through grade 12.
"Schools do more than educate our children; they also provide them with healthy, nutritious meals. With school facilities closed for the duration of the school year, students cannot access these meals," said acting State Superintendent of Education Beth Scioneaux. "School systems have stepped up to ensure no child in their community goes hungry, and the approval announced today provides in-need families with even greater security. We appreciate the leadership of the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services to make that possible."
The P-EBT benefit amounts to $5.70 per day per child. That's $285 for the 50 days, the same as the National School Lunch and School Breakfast programs reimbursement rates.
Louisiana officials estimate the state could distribute almost $174.3 million via P-EBT.
"What's important for parents to know is that P-EBT benefits are available to any family with children who received free or reduced-price meals at a school closed by the pandemic," said DCFS Secretary Marketa Garner Walters. "Some of these families are enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) program; others are not. We want to make all families whose children received free or reduced-price meals aware of the program and how they can apply for the benefits."
Local school systems will notify families they might be eligible for P-EBT. The families must then apply if they wish to receive the benefits. The application will be available in a P-EBT portal on the LDE website. The portal opens May 18, and the deadline to apply is June 7.
State officials say they expect considerable interest in the program and ask applicants to be patient in trying to access the portal.Once the child's information is verified, DCFS will mail a P-EBT debit card loaded with $285 per child, and instructions for using the card.
State officials expect to begin mailing cards May 26.
Benefits will be available for 365 days.The cards may be used at any store that accepts SNAP to buy SNAP-eligible food items.
Many Louisiana public schools already are providing emergency or "grab and go" meals to children regardless of the child's enrollment, family size or income, after receiving emergency permission from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The new P-EBT benefits do not preclude students from continuing to access those meals.The P-EBT program was authorized by Congress in the Families First Coronavirus Response Act of 2020. In obtaining federal approval for P-EBT, Louisiana joins more than 22 other states participating in the program.
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A list of schools that are CEP schools which offer free or reduced lunch are below: (Will be updated with more parishes)
ACADIA PARISH
All students in Acadia Parish qualify for free lunch through CEP
EVANGELINE PARISH
All students in Evangeline Parish qualify for free lunch through CEP
IBERIA PARISH
Alternative Center for Education
Anderson Middle
Belle Place Elem
Belle Place Middle
Caneview Elementary
Center St Elementary
Coteau Elementary
Daspit Elementary
Delcambre Elementary
Delcambre High
Iberia Middle
Jeanerette High
Jefferson Island Elementary
Johnston Hopkins Elementary
Loreauville Elementary
Loreauville High
Magnolia Elementary
New Iberia Senior High
North Lewis Elementary
Park Elementary
Pesson Elementary
St Charles Elementary
Sugarland Elementary
Westgate High
LAFAYETTE PARISH
Acadian Middle
L Leo Judice Elementary
Acadiana High
Judice Middle
Dr. Raphael Baranco Elementary
Lafayette Middle
Alice Boucher Elementary
Lerosen Preparatory Academy
LJ Alleman Middle
Green T Lindon Elementary
Paul Breaux Middle School
Live Oak Elementary
Broussard Middle
Edgar Martin Middle
Charles Burke Elementary
Cpl Michael Middlebrook Elementary
Carencro Heights Elementary
SJ Montgomery Elementary
Carencro Middle
Myrtle Place Elementary
Carencro High
Northside High
Ovey Comeaux High
Ossun Elementary
Katharine Drexel Elementary
Duson Elementary
Prairie Elementary
Ridge Elementary
Evangeline Elementary
Scott Middle
JW Faulk Elementary
Truman Early Childhood Center
Ernest Gallet Elementary
Westside Elementary
J Wallace James Elementary
Woodvale Elementary
ST LANDRY PARISH
All students are eligible for free lunch through CEP
ST MARTIN PARISH
Breaux Bridge Primary
Breaux Bridge Elementary
Breaux Bridge Junior High
Breaux Bridge High
Catahoula Elementary
Parks Primary
Parks Middle
Teche Elementary
Cecilia Junior High
Cecilia High
St. Martinville Primary
St. Martinville High
Early Learning Center
Stephensville Elementary
ST MARY PARISH
Aucoin Elementary
B. Edward Boudreaux Middle
Bayou Vista Elementary
Berwick Elementary
Centerville High
Foster Elementary
Franklin Senior High
Franklin Junior High
Hattie Watts Elementary
LaGrange Elementary
Maitland Elementary
Morgan City High
Morgan City Junior High
Norman Elementary
Patterson High
Patterson Junior High
Raintree Elementary
West St. Mary High
Wyandotte Elementary
VERMILION PARISH
Dozier Elementary
Cecil Picard Elementary
Eaton Park Elementary
Forked Island/E. Broussard Elementary
Herod Elementary
Indian Bayou Elementary
Jesse Owens Elementary
Kaplan Elementary
Leblanc Elementary
Meaux Elementary
Seventh Ward Elementary
Erath Middle School
J.H. Williams Middle School
North Vermilion Middle School
Rene Rost Middle School
Abbeville High School
Gueydan High School
Kaplan High School
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