PRIORITY NOTICE: IMPORTANT Survey Required To Implement Maine’s Permitted Pandemic EBT Plan

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has approved the Maine State’s P-EBT (Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer) plan. The Maine Department of Education (Maine DOE) has partnered with the Maine Department of Health (DHHS) and supports the approved plan. This is an important step in ensuring that all Maine children have access to food and that no child goes hungry.

P-EBT is part of a comprehensive USDA response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Eligible children and young people receive EBT cards with emergency financing for the purchase of groceries. These benefits apply to children on any remote or hybrid schedule who typically receive free or discounted meals during the school day.

In order to provide an accurate benefit to students, the Maine DOE requires all school administrative units (SAUs) running the USDA National School Lunch Program to complete a survey.

This survey must be completed online by May 10, 2021. To help SAUs gather the information they need, a preview of the survey is available here.

The participation of SAUs in this survey will help ensure that qualified Maine children and teenagers receive the benefits they are entitled to. Those who qualify can retrospectively receive up to $ 1,193.50 in pandemic food aid for the current school year. Participation in this survey is vital to ensure that eligible children and young people receive the support they are entitled to.

For questions about the Department of Education’s role in P-EBT, contact Adriane Ackroyd, Maine Department of Education, Child Nutrition at 207-592-1722 [email protected].

For questions about the survey, contact Charlotte Ellis, Education Data Manager, Maine Department of Education, 207-624-6696, [email protected].

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In accordance with federal civil rights law and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) civil rights rules and guidelines, the USDA, its agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs, are prohibited from doing race, Color, nationality, gender, disability, age, or retaliation or retaliation for previous civil rights engagement in programs or activities conducted or funded by the USDA.

Individuals with disabilities who need alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. braille, large print, tape, American sign language, etc.) should contact the agency (state or municipality) from which they applied for benefits. Those who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have speech impairment can contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. In addition, program information can be made available in languages ​​other than English.

To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form (AD-3027), available online at: https://www.usda.gov/oascr/how-to-file-a- program-discrimination-complaint and at a USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and include in the letter all 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 using:

(1) Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, DC 20250-9410; (2) Fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: [email protected].

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

The Maine Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination based on race, color, gender, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, religion, race, or national origin.

Complaints about discrimination must be made to the Maine Human Rights Commission office at 51 State House Station, Augusta, Maine 04333-0051. To file a discrimination complaint electronically, visit the Human Rights Commission website at https://www.maine.gov/mhrc/file/instructions and fill out an intake questionnaire. Maine is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

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