It will be loaded with money to help with food insecurity caused by the pandemic.
As face-to-face learning is resumed for more CPS students, things are still far from normal for many of their families.
“There are many families now struggling with children who do not have access to meals at school, unfortunately, many children are going hungry,” said Claudia Rodriguez, Greater Chicago Food Depositary, Senior Manager of Public Benefit Disclosure
The state of Illinois received federal funds to provide more relief for more children – 1 million children.
Students will receive funds through their school districts.
Children who qualify for free meals qualify for the Electronic Transfer of Pandemic Benefits, or P-EBT, so students from any school in the state can qualify.
In some cases, the entire district qualifies, so in more than 200 school districts, all students qualify for P-EBT.
All students at Chicago Public Schools are eligible for P-EBT, according to the authorities, so all students will receive $ 450 for the period that schools were learning remotely in the fall. The money will be placed on a reusable card.
“They can take this card and buy food at retail stores and grocery stores across the state, so please don’t throw these cards away,” said Grace Hou, Illinois Department of Human Services, secretary
State officials ask families to make sure their children’s school has the most current address and to keep an eye out for the white envelope in the mail with the card.
“If they came to school before the pandemic expecting or needing breakfast and lunch, there was a significant increase in the need to replace those meals,” said Hou.
“We think of adults who are hungry, may be homeless or have few jobs, but there are many families with children who are struggling,” said Rodriguez.
The cards will start coming out next week.
Qualified students who were remote this year will be entitled to more funds that would automatically be loaded onto their cards.
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