Chisholm Public Schools has been made aware that families of many Chisholm students are receiving information about food benefits from the Oklahoma Department of Human Services.
Be aware that Chisholm Public Schools did not share any information about our families’ names, addresses, phone numbers, or income with OKDHS. The Oklahoma State Department of Education identified students who would have received free and reduced lunches at Oklahoma public schools last spring when school buildings were closed or when students were out of school due to COVID-19 precautions, and OSDE shared the families’ contact information with OKDHS. Because all students in grades pre-kindergarten through grade twelve attending Chisholm Public Schools qualified for no-cost meals through the USDA’s Seamless Summer Options, every student in Chisholm Public Schools who was enrolled on March 30, 2020, was identified to receive these food benefits.
Parents of these students have already received or will receive a letter from OKDHS explaining they will receive funds through a Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer (P-EBT) program. According to OKDHS, families do not need to apply for these benefits. Those families that already receive SNAP benefits will find the additional funds added to their SNAP account. Families who do not receive SNAP benefits will receive a P-EBT card in the mail. Families who have more than one eligible student will receive all funds on a single card.