Utah Summer EBT Program Announces Round 3 Data Collection for New Applicants

The recent LEA Data Meeting held on August 14, 2025, highlighted important updates regarding the Summer EBT program, known as Utah Sunbucks, which provides food benefits to eligible students during the summer months. This initiative aims to support families facing food insecurity by offering $120 in food benefits to students who qualify for free and reduced-price meals.

During the meeting, a representative outlined the criteria for the upcoming Round 3 data collection, which will run from August 15 to September 5, 2025. This round specifically targets students who were not included in the previous rounds of data collection, ensuring that newly eligible students can receive the benefits. To qualify, students must have been enrolled in the National School Lunch Program between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2025, and must be determined eligible for free and reduced-price meals during the summer period.

The data collection process will utilize the Utrecht system, requiring specific information such as parent or guardian names and eligibility sources. This information is crucial for the Department of Workforce Services to process and issue the benefits. If the Utrecht system is not accessible, a Qualtrics survey will be available to gather the necessary data.

The meeting emphasized the importance of timely data submission, as the final determinations for benefit issuance will be made by September 30, 2025. The representatives encouraged local education agencies to submit their data as close to the September 5 deadline as possible to allow for data verification and cleanup before passing it on to the Department of Workforce Services.

As the Summer EBT program continues to evolve, these updates reflect ongoing efforts to address food insecurity among students in Utah, ensuring that families have access to essential resources during the summer months. For further inquiries, participants were encouraged to reach out to the program specialists or the Department of Workforce Services for assistance.