DC Department of Human Services
DC Office of the State Superintendent of Education
Child hunger increases over the summer when students lose access to school breakfasts and lunches. To bridge the summer hunger gap, the District launched SUN Bucks--or Summer EBT--in 2024. This new program provides each eligible student a $120 benefit card to buy groceries. The Lab @ DC has partnered with the Office of the State Superintendent for Education, the Department of Human Services, and the Office of Planning to make it easy for residents to access SUN Bucks benefits.
Photo Credit: USDA
Why is this issue important in DC?
DC children who get free or discounted meals each day at school are at higher risk of hunger when schools close for the summer.1 SUN Bucks is an evidence-based solution to reduce child hunger. A study from the federal government found that summer food benefits decrease food insecurity by more than one-third for students with low incomes.2
SUN Bucks is one piece of the District’s efforts to reduce child hunger. DC students can also participate in programs like summer meal sites and the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP). SUN Bucks works together with these programs to make up for school meals that are too often lost during the summer months.
What are we doing?
The Lab designed the forms that residents use to apply for SUN Bucks, update their mailing address, and ask questions about the program. The forms are mobile-friendly, simple, and take 15 minutes or less to complete. We also helped create a way to review applications efficiently and accurately, so students get decisions about whether they’re eligible quickly.
What have we learned?
Approximately 80,000 students in the District are eligible for SUN Bucks. We used data the District already has to preapprove more than half of those students and automatically send them benefits—no action required. Other students can apply to learn if they are eligible.
What comes next?
Summer 2024 is the first year the program is running in DC. We’ll take what we learn this year about how to reach residents and how to deliver benefits effectively so that the District can improve the program for the future.
What happened behind the scenes?
We debated whether to give families with more than one eligible child one card with all their students’ benefits, or multiple cards—one per student. A family card is easier to keep track of and use when shopping. A student-specific card makes it easier for benefits to travel with the student. For example, if one sibling spends the summer in DC and the other stays with their grandma in Georgia. This year, we chose to issue one card per student to allow families greater flexibility.
“The District is improving opportunities for our children and teens to access healthy, culturally relevant food while they’re in school and out. SUN Bucks is a key part of supporting families to thrive during the summer.”