Summer EBT Playbook & Implementation Toolkit
A comprehensive set of free resources designed to help state agencies plan for and implement a human-centered Summer EBT program.
See additional resources to view our new implementation tools, which include best practices for administrators to build a parent self-service portal, guidance to fulfill the student database requirement, and technical guidance on implementation of address validation technology.
In 2022, Congress established Summer EBT—the first new, permanent federal food assistance program in almost 50 years. The authorization of Summer EBT represents a historic investment in the nutrition and well-being of the almost 30 million children who will qualify for the program.
Summer EBT is designed to reduce childhood hunger by providing families with a monthly grocery benefit to feed their kids during the summer months when they’re not receiving meals at school. If implemented effectively, this program has the potential to dramatically reduce the long-standing increases in child hunger that are seen nationwide each summer.
But states that piloted Summer EBT or operated Pandemic EBT programs in the early years of the COVID-19 pandemic know that getting these benefits into the hands of families will involve overcoming complex challenges related to data and technology. That’s why Code for America and No Kid Hungry, a campaign of Share Our Strength, joined forces to create the Summer EBT Playbook: a comprehensive, free resource designed to help state agencies plan for and implement a human-centered Summer EBT program.
Based on primary research with government leaders from across 25 states and jurisdictions, this playbook provides step-by-step guidance for establishing and maintaining the key data and technology systems needed to deliver a human-centered Summer EBT program, including:
- An overview of client-centered Summer EBT program outcomes
- Recommendations for collecting and aggregating school data
- Best practices for matching and deduplicating student data
- Tips for creating an effective online Summer EBT application
- Best practices for digital outreach and customer support
Whether you need tips for addressing a specific technical challenge, or you’re just wrapping your mind around Summer EBT requirements and how to design the program in your state, this playbook is for you.
Additional resources
Code for America has developed in-depth materials to supplement the playbook. These resources include: best practices for creating self-service parent portals that give parents timely information about their child’s eligibility, detailed guidance on the database requirement per the Interim Final Rule, tips for record linkage and data aggregation, and technical guidance on implementing address validation technology, which facilitates successful card delivery, ultimately decreasing program costs and increasing program effectiveness.
Technical Resources for Summer EBT Mailing Address Validation
Best Practices for Summer EBT Self-Service Portals
The Summer EBT Student Database Requirement: Guidance for IFR Interpretation
Best Practices for Data Aggregation in Summer EBT
Best Practices for Record Linkage in Summer EBT Delivery
Tips for Working with Vendors
Summer EBT Checklist
Tips for Creating a Human-Centered Summer EBT Application