After struggling for nearly a year to get federal food assistance to qualified low-income families, Missouri has decided not to participate in this summer’s program — forgoing tens of millions of dollars in federal aid.
The problems administering the Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer program, or P-EBT, played a major role in the decision not to participate this year. Missouri education officials are not confident new money could be dispersed by a Sept. 30 deadline.
kAm“pD >2?J |:DD@FC: 72>:=:6D 42? 2EE6DE[ E96C6 92G6 366? 2 ?F>36C @7 492==6?86D E9C@F89@FE E96 AC@46DD 5F6 E@ E96 7656C2= C6BF:C6>6?ED 2DD@4:2E65 H:E9 2446DD:?8 2?5 25>:?:DE6C:?8 E96 36?67:ED[” D2:5 |2==@CJ |4v@H:?[ 2 DA@<6DA6CD@? 7@C E96 s6A2CE>6?E @7 t=6>6?E2CJ 2?5 t5F42E:@?[ H9:49 25>:?:DE6CD E96 AC@8C2>[ “4@FA=65 H:E9 E96 =:>:E2E:@?D @7 @FC 4FCC6?E DE2E6 2?5 =@42= 52E2 4@==64E:@? DJDE6>D]”k^Am
kAm!tq% 😀 2 7656C2= r~’xs`h C6=:67 AC@8C2> 25>:?:DE6C65 3J DE2E6D E92E 92D @A6C2E65 😕 G2C:@FD 7@C>D D:?46 a_a_ E@ AC@G:56 6IEC2 7@@5 36?67:ED E@ <:5D[ H9:49 2C6 =@2565 @?E@ 42C5D 2?5 FD65 =:<6 E96 7@@5 DE2>A AC@8C2>] k^Am
kAm%9:D DF>>6C’D AC@8C2> H@F=5’G6 AC@G:565 S`a_ 7@C 7@@5 E@ 2?J 49:=5 H9@ H2D 6=:8:3=6 7@C 7C66 @C C65F465 =F?49 5FC:?8 E96 =2DE D49@@= J62C]k^Am
kAm|4v@H:? D2:5 😕 E96 a_a`aa D49@@= J62C[ C@F89=J bde[___ DEF56?ED BF2=:7:65 7@C 7C66 @C C65F465 =F?49] k^Am
kAmx7 E92E 96=5 ECF6 7@C E96 ?6IE D49@@= J62C[ E92E H@F=5 >62? E96 DE2E6 😀 >:DD:?8 @FE @? Sca]f >:==:@? 5@==2CD 😕 2:5]k^Am
kAmr92==6?86D 4@==64E:?8 2?5 D92C:?8 52E2 36EH66? 286?4:6D 42FD65 E96 >2;@C 56=2JD 😕 86EE:?8 =2DE J62C’D >@?6J E@ 6=:8:3=6 49:=5C6?]k^Am
kAm“xE’D ;FDE C62==J FAD6EE:?8 E@ D66 E96 5JD7F?4E:@? 😕 E96 @FE52E65 52E2 DJDE6>D 2?5 E96 5JD7F?4E:@? @7 E96 4@>>F?:42E:@? 36EH66? 5:776C6?E 56A2CE>6?ED 2?5 D92C:?8 @7 52E2[” D2:5 r9C:DE:?6 (@@5J[ 7@@5 D64FC:EJ A@=:4J >2?286C 2E E96 25G@424J @C82?:K2E:@? t>A@H6C |:DD@FC:]k^Am
kAm“W%92EX 😀 F=E:>2E6=J H92E E96J D2:5 😀 E96 C62D@? H9J 2== E96D6 <:5D 2C6?’E 8@:?8 E@ 86E 7@@5 E9:D DF>>6C — H96? =@ED @7 @E96C DE2E6D 2C6 23=6 E@ >2<6 :E H@C< 2?5 >2<6 :E 92AA6?[” (@@5J D2:5]k^Am
kAmpAC:= $9:6=5D[ 2 >@E96C @7 2 fJ62C@=5 😕 E96 z2?D2D r:EJ 2C62 ;FDE C646:G65 =2DE DF>>6C’D 36?67:ED @?6 >@?E9 28@] $96 42==65 E96 ?6HD “C:5:4F=@FD” 2?5 D2:5 E92E D96 =62C?65 E96 DE2E6 H@F=5 36 EFC?:?8 5@H? E9:D DF>>6C’D >@?6J 7C@> E96 >65:2 :?DE625 @7 DE2E6 @77:4:2=D]k^Am
kAm“*@F 32D:42==J ;FDE C@3365 FD @7 2 36?67:E E92E J@F 5:5?’E 92G6 E@ 5@ 2?JE9:?8 7@C :E 3FE ;FDE E@ 5@ J@FC ;@3[” $9:6=5D D2:5]k^Am
kAm“|@DE @7 FD 2C6 H@C<:?8 4=2DD 2?5 :7 H6 5@?’E 92G6 2 A2J4964< 7@C 2 >@?E9[ 6G6CJE9:?8 8@6D E@ 96==[” D96 D2:5] “$@ x E9:?< E92E :E’D C62==J F?7@CEF?2E6 E92E 2 564:D:@? :D 36:?8 >256 7@C FD H96? E96C6’D 49:=5C6? @FE 96C6 H9@ 5@?’E 6 😕 E96 6G6?:?8]”k^Am
k9bmkDEC@?8m$JDE6> :DDF6Dk^DEC@?8mk^9bm
kAmpE =62DE k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]7?D]FD52]8@G^D?2A^DE2E68F:52?464@C@?2G:CFDA2?56>:463EA63EQmc_ @E96C DE2E6D H6C6 2AAC@G65k^2m 3J E96 7656C2= 8@G6C?>6?E E@ A2CE:4:A2E6 😕 E9:D DF>>6C’D !tq% AC@8C2>]k^Am
kAm~E96C DE2E6D ?@E AC@4665:?8 😕 E96 AC@8C2>[ :?4=F5:?8 p=2D<2[ |:DD:DD:AA:[ %6I2D 2?5 x529@[ A:??65 E96:C 564:D:@? @? DE277:?8 :DDF6D 2?5 E96 2C8F>6?E E92E E96 AC@8C2> H2D >62?E 7@C r~’xs`h 5:DCFAE:@?D E92E 2C6 ?@ =@?86C @44FCC:?8[ 2>@?8 @E96C C62D@?D[ 244@C5:?8 E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]4??]4@>^a_ab^_f^`b^A@=:E:4D^A63EDF>>6C7@@52DD:DE2?46^:?56I]9E>=Qmr}}k^2m]k^Am
kAm|:DD@FC:’D 65F42E:@? 56A2CE>6?E 92D =2C86=J 4:E65 25>:?:DEC2E:G6 9FC5=6D E@ 5:DA6CD:?8 E96 36?67:ED — H9:49 C6BF:C6D 4@@C5:?2E:@? 36EH66? D49@@=D[ E96 65F42E:@? 56A2CE>6?E 2?5 D@4:2= D6CG:46D 56A2CE>6?E] %96 DE2E6 ?66565 E@ 82E96C 6=:8:3:=:EJ :?7@C>2E:@? 23@FE DEF56?ED 😕 2 7@C> :E 5:5?’E AC6G:@FD=J 4@==64E 2?5 D92C6 52E2 24C@DD A=2E7@C>D E92E 5:5?’E ?646DD2C:=J D92C6 E96 D2>6 7@C>2E]k^Am
kAm~E96C DE2E6D 72465 25>:?:DEC2E:G6 492==6?86D =2DE J62C E@ 5:DA6CD:?8 E96 36?67:ED @G6C E96 DF>>6C — 3FE >@DE 5:DA6CD65 E96> ;FDE 2 76H >@?E9D =2E6C]k^Am
kAm|:DD@FC: 3682? 5:DA6CD:?8 DF>>6C a_aa 36?67:ED 😕 yF?6 @7 E9:D J62C 2?5 H2D 2>@?8 E96 =2DE DE2E6D E@ 5@ D@] k^Am
kAm%96 DE2E6 ?66565 E@ 4C62E6 2 52E2 A@CE2= 7C@> D4C2E49 E@ 4@==64E DEF56?E 6=:8:3:=:EJ :?7@C>2E:@? 7C@> D49@@=D E@ D92C6 H:E9 E96 65F42E:@? 56A2CE>6?E 2?5 E96? E96 D@4:2= D6CG:46D 56A2CE>6?E 2?5 7656C2= 8@G6C?>6?E] %92E 4@?EC24E H2D?’E D:8?65 F?E:= =2DE pF8FDE H:E9 E96 G6?5@C[ r2C29D@7E[ 244@C5:?8 E@ C64@C5D @3E2:?65 3J %96 x?56A6?56?E E9C@F89 E96 |:DD@FC: $F?D9:?6 {2H] k^Am
kAmpE E92E A@:?E[ D@>6 DE2E6D 925 2=C625J 368F? 5:DEC:3FE:?8 E96 36?67:ED]k^Am
kAm“x D E@ 6?DFC6 E92E H6 42? 244@>A=:D9 E96 25>:?:DEC2E:@? @7 E96 36?67:ED]”k^Am
kAm“xE’D ?@ D>2== E9:?8 E@ D2J H6 ?665 J@F E@ 4@==64E 2== E9:D 52E2 2?5 25>:?:DE6C 2== E96D6 36?67:ED[” t24C6E D2:5] “qFE :E 😀 D@ :>A@CE2?E E92E :E 86ED 5@?6 E92E H6 ?665 E@ 7:8FC6 @FE 2 8@@5 DJDE6> 😕 @C56C 7@C :E E@ 92AA6?]”k^Am
kAmz6=D6J q@@?6[ D6?:@C 49:=5 ?FEC:E:@? A@=:4J 2?2=JDE 2E E96 s]r]32D65 u@@5 #6D62C49 U2>Aj p4E:@? r6?E6CkDEC@?8m[k^DEC@?8m H9@ 92D DEF5:65 !tq% A@=:4J ?2E:@?2==J[ D2:5 DE2E6D G2C:65 H:56=J 😕 6DE23=:D9:?8 E96 AC@A6C :?7C2DECF4EFC6 E@ 5:DA6CD6 E96 36?67:ED]k^Am
kAm“$@>6 DE2E6D ?6G6C 7F==J 56G6=@A65 2 A6C>2?6?E :?7C2DECF4EFC6 E@ 92?5=6 E96 5:D3FCD6>6?E @7 E96D6 7F?5D[” q@@?6 D2:5] k^Am
kAm“p?5 H92E H6’G6 D66? 😀 D@>6 DE2E6D 92G6 ;FDE 925 2 324
kAmq68:??:?8 ?6IE DF>>6C[ E96 AC@8C2> H:== 36 >256 A6C>2?6?E 7656C2==J[ H:E9 Sc_ 😕 36?67:ED A6C >@?E9 @7 DF>>6C G242E:@?] $E2E6D 42? 49@@D6 H96E96C @C ?@E E@ @AE :?] k^Am
kAm|4v@H:? A=65865 E92E 8@:?8 7@CH2C5 E96 DE2E6 H:== “7@4FD @? :>A=6>6?E:?8 E96 DJDE6> 492?86D ?646DD2CJ E@ 724:=:E2E6 A2CE:4:A2E:@? 😕 DF>>6C tq% AC@8C2>D 😕 7FEFC6 J62CD]” k^Am
kAmqFE 7@C |:DD@FC: E@ A2CE:4:A2E6 😕 ?6IE J62C’D AC@8C2>[ “E96 DE2E6’D 52E2 4@==64E:@? DJDE6>D ?665 E@ 36 255C6DD65 H6== 😕 25G2?46[” |4v@H:? D2:5]k^Am
kAm“%96 4FCC6?E !tq% AC@8C2>D 92G6 C6BF:C65 52E2 E@ 36 4@==64E65 7C@> D49@@=D E92E st$t 5@6D ?@E ?@C>2==J 4@==64E[” D96 D2:5] “(6 >FDE E96? 255C6DD 9@H E96 52E2 42? 36 >@DE 677:4:6?E=J 2?5 67764E:G6=J D92C65 H:E9 s$$[ 2?5 D92C65 😕 2 H2J E92E >@C6 D62>=6DD=J :?E68C2E6D H:E9 s$$’ 36?67:E 25>:?:DEC2E:@? DJDE6>D]”k^Am
kAm(@@5J D2:5 E96 DE2E6’D A=6586 E@ >2<6 492?86D E@ 36EE6C @A6C2E6 E96 AC@8C2> 😕 7FEFC6 J62CD 😀 “E96 @?=J 3C:89E DA@E]”k^Am
kAm“’x’> 9@A67F= E92E E92E 24EF2==J 92AA6?D[” (@@5J D2:5[ “qFE @G6C2==[ :E’D 567:?:E6=J 5:D2AA@:?E:?8]”k^Am
kAmxE 😀 ?@E J6E 4=62C H96E96C E96 DE2E6 H:== >2<6 2 AF3=:4 2??@F?46>6?E :E A=2?D ?@E E@ AC@4665 H:E9 E96 AC@8C2> — E96 DE2E6 5:5 ?@E C6DA@?5 E@ E96 BF6DE:@?]k^Am
kAmu@C >@?E9D[ A2CE:4:A2?ED 😕 !tq% C2:D65 4@?46C?D 23@FE 2 =24< @7 4@>>F?:42E:@? 7C@> E96 DE2E6 23@FE H96? E@ 6IA64E =2DE DF>>6C’D 36?67:ED] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^>:DD@FC::?56A6?56?E]4@>^a_ab^_a^_e^DE:==?@E:>6=:?67@C>:DD@FC:72>:=:6D2H2:E:?8DF>>6Ca_aa7@@52DD:DE2?46^QmuCFDEC2E:@?k^2m 8C6H 2D 72>:=:6D 92G6 D@F89E 2?5 72:=65 E@ C646:G6 :?7@C>2E:@? 7C@> E96 DE2E6[ 56G@E:?8 9@FCD E@ ECJ:?8 E@ 7:?5 @FE H96C6 E96 36?67:ED H6C6 2?5 D92C:?8 :?7@C>2E:@? @?=:?6[ H9:=6 >2?28:?8 E:89E 3F586ED] %96 DE2E6 AC@G:565 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^>:DD@FC::?56A6?56?E]4@>^a_ab^_d^ae^2C@F?5e_____>:DD@FC:<:5DDE:==H2:E:?87@CDF>>6Ca_aa8C@46CJ36?67:ED^Qm?@ E:>6=:?6k^2m 7@C >@?E9D[ 27E6C @C:8:?2==J 6DE:>2E:?8 E96 36?67:ED H@F=5 36 5:DA6CD65 3J E96 6?5 @7 a_aa]k^Am
kAmt24C6E D2:5 D96 9@A6D E96 DE2E6 25@AED 4=62C6C 4@>>F?:42E:@? H:E9 A2CE:4:A2?ED[ :?4=F5:?8 E@ :?7@C> E96> @7 E9:D 564:D:@?]k^Am
kAm“u2>:=:6D ;FDE ?665 E92E <:?5 @7 :?7@C>2E:@? D@ E96J 42? A=2? 7@C E96:C 3F586ED @C E96J’C6 ?@E H2:E:?8 2C@F?5 2?5 E9:?<:?8 E92E :E H:== 36 4@>:?8 2E E96 6?5 @7 E96 DF>>6C[” D96 D2:5]k^Am
k9bmkDEC@?8m~G6C `__[___ 49:=5C6? H2:E:?8 7@C DF>>6C a_aa 36?67:EDk^DEC@?8mk^9bm
kAm%96 DE2E6 D2:5 @G6C adh[___ 49:=5C6? 92G6 366? :DDF65 DF>>6C a_aa !tq% 36?67:ED D@ 72C[ 2?5 dd[e__ 92G6 ?@E 366? :DDF65 36?67:ED 5F6 E@ 52E2 :DDF6D 2?5 >:DD:?8 :?7@C>2E:@?] %92E G6CD:@? @7 E96 AC@8C2> H2D 7@C Sbh` A6C 6=:8:3=6 49:=5]k^Am
kAm%96 DE2E6 😀 DE:== H@C<:?8 E9C@F89 E96 DEF56?E 36?67:ED 367@C6 E96J :DDF6 36?67:ED 7@C <:5D F?56C D:I – DF>>6C a_aa !tq% :?4=F565 <:5D F?56C D:I 3FE DF>>6C a_ab H@F=5 ?@E 92G6]k^Am
kAm|4v@H:? D2:5 E96J 2?E:4:A2E6 “?62C=J `dg[___” 49:=5C6? F?56C D:I H:== C646:G6 E96 36?67:ED]k^Am
kAm%96J A=2? E@ :DDF6 36?67:ED 7@C <:5D F?56C D:I 27E6C 4@>A=6E:?8 5:DA6CD2= 7@C E96 DEF56?E A@AF=2E:@?] k^Am
kAm~?6 >@E96C @7 E9C66 😕 $E] {@F:D[ |2C:6 |@@C69625[ D2:5 D96’D ?@E J6E C646:G65 36?67:ED 7@C 96C EH@ <:5D F?56C 286 D:I]k^Am
kAm%@ 962C 7C@> 2 C6A@CE6C E92E E96 DE2E6 EFC?65 5@H? DF>>6C a_ab >@?6J 25565 “:?DF=E E@ :?;FCJ[” |@@C69625 D2:5]k^Am
kAm“x’> ;FDE 566A=J FAD6E[” D96 D2:5[ “3642FD6 E96J 2=C625J E@@< 2 =:EE=6 @G6C 2 J62C E@ A2J @FE 7@C E96 AC6G:@FD 2AAC@G2= 7@C E96 Sbh` E92E 2 =@E @7 72>:=:6D C646:G65 2?5 2 =@E >@C6 DE:== H2:E:?8[ :?4=F5:?8 >JD6=7]”k^Am
kAmw6C 72>:=J 92D DECF88=65 E@ 277@C5 7@@5[ |@@C69625 D2:5[ 6DA64:2==J 2D AC:46D 92G6 C:D6?]k^Am
kAm“%@ ;FDE E2:=2J 36[ G686E23=6D[ 7CF:ED[ 2?5 @H:?8 9@H 9:89 ,E96 4@DE @7 7@@5. :D[ 😀 C:5:4F=@FD[” |@@C69625 D2:5] “%96D6 @77:4:2=D 92G6 =6E E96D6 A2C6?ED 2?5 49:=5C6? 5@H? 2 =@E]”k^Am
kAmk6>m%9:D H2D 7:CDE AF3=:D965 3J E96 |:DD@FC: x?56A6?56?E[ 2 ?@?A2CE:D2?[ ?@?AC@7:E ?6HD @C82?:K2E:@? 4@G6C:?8 DE2E6 8@G6C?>6?E[ A@=:E:4D 2?5 A@=:4J[ 2?5 😀 C6AC:?E65 H:E9 A6C>:DD:@?]k^6>mk^Am
kAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^>:DD@FC::?56A6?56?E]4@>Qm k^2mk^Am