Dear County Superintendents of Schools:

Apportionment for Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer
Local Administrative Cost Grant
Fiscal Year 2021–22

This apportionment, in the amount of $2,649,656 is made from federal funds granted to the state for Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT). The purpose of the P-EBT Local Administrative Cost Grant is to assist local educational agencies (LEA) with administrative costs for P-EBT. This grant is made possible by Section 4601 of the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2021 and Other Extensions Act (P.L. 116-159), Sec. 721 of the FY 2021 Omnibus and COVID Relief and Response Act (P.L. 116-260).

The amount paid to each LEA was determined based on the number of eligible P-EBT children enrolled in the LEA in School Year 2020–21. Amounts paid in this apportionment are listed on the schedule of apportionment posted under the funding tab on the California Department of Education (CDE) web page at https://www.cde.ca.gov/fg/fo/profile.asp?id=5790&recID=5790.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture grant award number for this funding is 217CACA8S9009. The federal award date is March 29, 2020. The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance subprogram number is 10.649. The funding is appropriated in Schedule (1) of Item 6100-201-0890 of the Budget Act of 2021, Senate Bill 112. The California sub-allocation (pass-through) number is Program Cost Account (PCA) 15644.

This subgrant is subject to the provisions Title 7, Code of Federal Regulations (7 CFR), parts 210, 215, 220, and 245; and Title 2, Code of Federal Regulations (2 CFR), Part 200. Under such provisions, LEAs must deposit federal funds into the nonprofit school food service account and have a system in place to track the revenue received to reasonable and allowable expenses for P-EBT administration. LEAs are advised to retain all supporting documentation in accordance with 7 CFR, 253.5(h). Additional information and Frequently Asked Questions are located on the California Department of Education (CDE) Nutrition What’s New web page at https://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/nu/nutritionwhatsnew.asp.

The project period for the P-EBT Local Administrative Cost Grant for LEAs is October 1, 2020, through September 30, 2021. Thus, funds must be used to reimburse P-EBT administrative expenses during that time period.

Pursuant to 2 CFR, Section 200.305(b)(9), interest earned amounts up to $500 per year may be retained by the nonfederal entity for administrative expenses. However, the interest earned requirement does not apply to nonprofit school food service funds. For more information, please see the Nutrition Services Division (NSD) Management Bulletin at the CDE Interest Earned on the Cafeteria Account/Fund web page at https://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/nu/sn/mbusdasnp162009.asp.

County superintendents were notified of this apportionment by email. Links to this letter and the accompanying apportionment schedule are posted on the CDE web page at https://www.cde.ca.gov/fg/fo/profile.asp?id=5790&recID=5790.

If you have any questions regarding the P-EBT Local Administrative Cost Grant, this apportionment, or the allocation amounts, please contact the NSD by phone at 916-445-0850 or by email at PEBT@cde.ca.gov.

Sincerely,

Mary Nicely
Chief Deputy Superintendent