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The Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service awarded the Minnesota Department of Education $267,542,340.50 on October 1, 2025, under the National School Lunch Program (CFDA 10.555), a formula grant that funds nutritious meal service for school children in Minnesota through October 1, 2025, to September 30, 2026.

The National School Lunch Program provides cash subsidies and USDA Foods to participating schools and residential child care institutions to offer nutritionally balanced, low-cost or no-cost lunches meeting federal meal pattern requirements. The Minnesota Department of Education, as the state agency, administers program funds, determines school eligibility, establishes written participation agreements with school food authorities and institutions, and oversees record-keeping and compliance. School food authorities submit applications to the state agency and maintain records of nonprofit food service operations, including finances, menu planning, meal counting, and claiming. Eligible students may apply for free or reduced-price meals. Participating schools and institutions must operate food service on a nonprofit basis available to all children regardless of race, sex, color, national origin, age, or disability. The program also covers snacks served in approved afterschool programs with educational or enrichment components.