News

P-EBT Update

November 17, 2020

Dear SFIS parents and students,

The NM Human Services Department will move forward with another P-EBT issuance in December 2020. We know that some of our SFIS families have had problems with their P-EBT card and/or issuance. Please understand that the agencies involved, NM Public Education Department and NM Humans Services Department are “building the airplane while they fly it”. They have never collaborated in this way and are trying to provide food assistance to over 262,000 children in New Mexico. Errors occurred with data extraction. SFIS administration is working collaboratively with PED, HSD and Bureau of Indian Education (along with other tribally controlled and BIE schools) to ensure our school community receives the future issuance with no errors. Please know that SFIS has followed all instructions and provided all student data to the appropriate offices in a timely manner. We are working together to improve communication channels as well. A meeting was held with BIE, HSD, PED and tribally controlled schools on November 12, 2020 in which information was clarified and shared out about the P-EBT process.

NEXT STEPS:

PLEASE LOG INTO NASIS AND MAKE SURE YOUR MAILING ADDRESS IS CORRECT BY NOVEMBER 23, 2020. Please make sure the address is spelled correctly and there are no typos. If need be, update your address. Here is a YouTube video about how to update your information in NASIS. NASIS Parent Settings: https://youtu.be/b33BaaRIMDo
If you have a P-EBT card (white card with your student’s name on it), please keep this card as getting a replacement card will take 7-10 business days and delay a family’s ability to utilize the funds. If you need a replacement card, please call 1-800-843-8303. All future issuance will be put onto this white P-EBT card.
If you have not received a P-EBT card or did not receive the Fall Issuance we regret to inform you that those funds are now expended and cannot be issued as the fiscal year is closed. Student’s will be issued a card for the December issuance onward. Please keep any P-EBT cards issued as there is likely to be future issuance. Our school administration is exploring avenues to advocate for compensatory funding for student’s left out of the Spring and Fall issuance.
If you OPTED OUT of Directory Information Sharing in the 2020-2021 Registration Forms, you will be receiving a phone call very soon from our admissions office. We are going to be double checking with you to see if you want your information shared so your student can receive P-EBT. Your student will NOT receive the benefits unless you confirm with our Admissions Staff you “Opt -In” for P-EBT by November 23, 2020.
If you are in need of resources for Food Assistance, please contact the SFIS Student Wellness Department at 505-908-1315 and leave a detailed message with your phone number OR email mbrock@sfis.k12.nm.us

Again we apologize for any confusion or delays. These problems were not unique to SFIS and the state agencies are working hard to remediate the problems with BIE.

In service,

Maria Brock, LCSW Student Wellness Director