Food Services

The federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act of 2020 provided temporary benefits, referred to as P-EBT, to families of school-aged children who would have received free or reduced-priced meals through the USDA National School Lunch Program (NSLP) if school had not been affected during the COVID-19 pandemic. These benefits were issued in late Spring/Summer of 2020. A second issuance of P-EBT was authorized by Congress for the 2020-2021 school year.

This second issuance will provide the equivalent monetary amount for school breakfast, lunch, and snack to families of students who are enrolled in schools participating in the NSLP but are not attending in person due to COVID-19. For the issuance this school year, Pennsylvania will distribute benefits to about 928,000 children – for a total distribution of about $1 billion.

P-EBT benefits are only available to students who are eligible for free and reduced-price school meals or attend a Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) school,  enrolled in a school which participates in the NSLP, and for school days the eligible student was/is not receiving in-person instruction (school closures, virtual/remote instruction, absences, quarantine, etc.). The USDA has approved a simplifying assumption that allows Pennsylvania to issue a standard partial benefit amount across the state for students that were/are both in person and virtual (blended).  ALL STUDENTS ACTIVELY ENROLLED IN WHSD SCHOOLS WILL RECEIVE BENEFITS. If you receive P-EBT benefits for your child and do not wish to participate, simply destroy and throw away the card.

Benefits will be issued in three separate stages:

Benefits for September – November 2020: Issued late Spring 2021

Benefits for December 2020 – February 2021: Issued in second and third week of June 2021

Benefits for March – May 2021: Issued in third and fourth week of July 2021

Children whose families already receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits will receive the PEBT benefits on the household’s regular EBT card, if possible. Otherwise, students will receive a new P-EBT card in the eligible student’s name.

Each eligible student will be mailed a letter detailing P-EBT. This letter is a separate mailing from the card. The letter will be mailed in the student’s name to the address provided for the primary parent/guardian. The letter will explain what the P-EBT card is, where and how to use the card, how to create a PIN for the card, what items are eligible for purchase with the card, and who to contact with questions.

Children whose families already receive SNAP or TANF benefits will receive P-EBT benefits on the household’s regular EBT card, if possible. Parents can check card balances at www.connectebt.com or calling 1-888-328-7366.

This mailing will be coming from Texas in a non-descript white envelope.

Students will receive funds for each day they were not attending school in person. This will range from 0-180 school days. Benefits will be issued based on September 2020 – May 2021, using an average of 20 school days/month (9 months x 20 days = 180 days).

The USDA has approved a simplifying assumption that allows Pennsylvania to issue a partial standard benefit for all students in a blended learning model (in-person and virtual).

The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) will calculate the benefits each student will receive.

Students are only eligible for P-EBT benefits on days they were not receiving in person instruction.  The level of in-person instruction a student received/s will be generalized into three categories for each respective month September 2020 – May 2021:

 In-person learning  (100%)  = NO BENEFITS

 Virtual learning  (100%) =  RECEIVES 100 % BENEFITS

The students who attended virtual classes or were not in-person 100% of the month (every school day). Students in this category will receive full benefits for the respective month.

 Blended (both in-person and virtual) RECEIVES 65% BENEFITS

Students who were  “Blended”  or HYBRID are the students who  received a combination of in-person and virtual/remote instruction during the month. Examples include, but are not limited to: • The student was neither 100% in-person nor 100% virtual/remote (including absences) in the respective month. • The student had some in-person days and some virtual/remote days. • The student was scheduled to be in-person but had absences or could not attend school due to being quarantined, virtual/remote snow days, etc. Students in this category will receive a standard partial benefit. For the months of September 2020 – February 2021 (first and second issuance stages), the benefit level will be 65%.

If your child has a food allergy or specific dietary need that requires an accommodation you must complete a Medical Plan of Care Form in order for a reasonable accommodation to be made by the federal school meal program.  Please note that the Department of Education REQUIRES a doctor's signature in order to accommodate an alternative option for the stated dietary need or restriction.  The physician must also list the foods to be omitted from the diet as well as any recommended alternatives. 

Please complete the form and submit to your school's food service department as soon as possible.  

Medical Plan of Care for School Food Service

Medical Plan of Care for School Food Service Electronic Fill in Form

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact 412-244-1100 ext 5170

The Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act of 2010 required USDA to establish nutrition standards for all foods sold on school grounds during the school day. On June 28, 2013, USDA released interim regulations that delineate the standards and are referred to as the Smart Snacks in Schools Standards. These standards are available at www.fns.usda.gov The standards are effective July 1, 2014.
School fundraisers are included in the standards. The proposed rule requires that each State Agency that has oversight for the School Nutrition Programs (Pennsylvania Department of Education) to determine if schools will be permitted to sell foods (including beverages) as fundraisers that do not meet the Smart Snacks in Schools Standards and, if permitted, establish the number and duration of each fundraiser.
A fundraiser is considered an event that includes an activity which currency/token/tickets, etc. are exchanged for the sale/purchase of a product in support of the school or school-related activities. Examples include: bake sales, candy bar sales, vending machines where profits are used to support a school-sponsored club or activity, such as the school band or sports team.
The PA Department of Education has determined that a maximum of five exempt fundraisers will be permitted in each elementary and middle school building per year, and a maximum of ten exempt fundraisers will be permitted in each high school building per year. Each fundraiser may not exceed one school week.  It is important to remember that these exemptions only apply to fundraisers that do not meet the requirements for foods sold in school in the Smart Snack Standards. Non-food fundraisers and food fundraisers that meet the requirements of the Smart Snack Standards do not require an exemption. Exempt fundraisers may not be sold in the food service area during the meal period. Additionally, the Smart Snack Standards only apply to foods sold to students during the school day. Therefore, the Smart Snack Standards are not applicable to fundraisers that take place after the school day from the school's dismissal time until 11:59 PM or for foods not meant for immediate consumption (i.e., fundraisers where a brochure is sent home, such as frozen pizzas, subs/sandwiches).

Wellness Committee The district shall establish a Wellness Committee comprised of, but not necessarily limited to, at least one (1) of each of the following: School Board member, district administrator, district food service representative, student, parent/guardian, school health professional, physical education teacher and member of the public. It shall be the goal that committee membership will include representatives from each school building and reflect the diversity of the community.[2] The Wellness Committee shall serve as an advisory committee regarding student health issues and shall be responsible for developing, implementing and periodically reviewing and updating a School Wellness policy that complies with law to recommend to the Board for adoption. The Wellness Committee shall review and consider evidence-based strategies and techniques in establishing goals for nutrition education and promotion, physical activity and other school based activities that promote student wellness as part of the policy development and revision process.[3]  If you are interested in participating in the Wellness Committee, please contact your school.

Department of Education
333 Market Street | Harrisburg, PA 17126 | www.education.state.pa.us
MEMO

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.

 

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.  Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

 

To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:

 

(1)       Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights

1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;

 

(2)      Fax: (202) 690-7442; or

 

(3)      E-mail: program.intake@usda.gov.

 

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

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