Published February 18, 2025

As the Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer Program (Summer EBT) enters its second year of implementation, the deadline has passed for states to opt in to operate the program in 2025.   

Thirty-eight states, Washington D.C., five Indian Tribal Organizations, and all five U.S. territories submitted a notice of intent by the January 1 deadline and are poised to implement Summer EBT this year. This includes two states — Alabama and Utah — that will be operating Summer EBT for the first time.  

Twelve states have chosen not to participate: Alaska, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Mississippi, Oklahoma1, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee (Tennessee participated in 2023 but chose not to operate again), Texas, and Wyoming. This means that approximately 9.5 million children will miss out on nutrition benefits they would otherwise be eligible to receive, and states are leaving over $1.1 billion in benefits on the table.  

When schools close for summer, millions of children miss out on nutritious meals they rely on during the school year. Traditional summer meal programs are designed to support children’s health and learning, but barriers such as transportation, location, and availability often limit participation, contributing to higher levels of hunger during the summer. Summer EBT is a way to bridge the gap and keep children fed while they are not in school, The Summer EBT Program is a proven method to decrease food insecurity and increase nutrition during the summer months. It can serve as a standalone nutrition support to students when school is out or be paired with participation at summer meal sites; students are encouraged to utilize both programs. 

Each year, states decide whether they will participate in the program. If your state is participating in 2025, it is still important that your elected officials hear from you on how important Summer EBT is for families. Advocacy opportunities for stakeholders in participating states include: 

  • calling your state Representative and governor’s office and letting them know the impact this program has had on families;  
  • calling your federal Representatives and urging them to strengthen Summer EBT at the federal level; and  
  • raising awareness of the program through social media and encouraging all eligible families to participate.  

For more information on how to engage in Summer EBT advocacy campaigns or outreach, see the Food Research & Action Center’s (FRAC) Summer EBT Outreach and Advocacy Toolkit. You can find more examples of state and federal outreach materials in FRAC’s Summer EBT Communications Resource Center. FRAC is always available to connect to support your Summer EBT advocacy efforts. For more information, contact Kelsey Boone at kboone@frac.org.  

To find out more about Summer EBT, visit FRAC’s Summer EBT website.