Federal Grant Award Summary

The Maryland State Department of Education received a $535,599 formula grant award from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service under the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP, CFDA 10.558), effective October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2027. As the state administering agency, MSDE will utilize these funds to support nonprofit food service operations and provide reimbursements for nutritious meals and snacks to eligible children and adults enrolled in participating child care centers, day care homes, afterschool care programs in low-income areas, and emergency shelters throughout Maryland. The award also supports state-level program administration expenses, including oversight, compliance monitoring, technical assistance, and audit functions necessary to ensure participating institutions maintain civil rights compliance and operational integrity.

Under this formula grant, MSDE will serve as the intermediary between the federal government and local institutions, entering into written agreements with approved child and adult care sponsoring organizations and providers. The department will be responsible for distributing federal funds to participating nonprofits and day care providers, establishing audit policies for for-profit institutions, maintaining comprehensive program records, and ensuring that all participating institutions operate food services available to eligible participants regardless of race, sex, color, national origin, age, or disability. This funding directly supports the promotion of healthy growth and development in young children while advancing the health and wellness of older adults and chronically impaired disabled persons across Maryland's child and adult care network.