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The Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service awarded the Ohio Department of Education $509.125 million on October 1, 2025, under the National School Lunch Program (CFDA 10.555), a formula grant providing cash subsidies and USDA Foods to support nutritious nonprofit lunch service in schools and child care institutions across Ohio through September 30, 2026.

The award funds school lunch, school breakfast, and child and adult care food programs delivered by over 80 sub-recipients including school districts, charter schools, child care centers, and community organizations throughout Ohio. Major sub-recipients include Toledo Public Schools, Lorain City School District, Canton City School District, and numerous smaller local school districts such as Coshocton City, Maple Heights City, and Bowling Green City Schools, as well as non-school entities including Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio, Murtis Taylor Human Services System, and Childrens Hunger Alliance. Sub-awards issued between October 2025 and February 2026 fund meal service operations, with individual school districts and child care providers receiving pass-through funding to reimburse participating schools and institutions for meals served to eligible children.

The National School Lunch Program assists states in providing nutritionally balanced, low-cost or no-cost lunches to school children, with participating schools receiving cash subsidies and USDA Foods in exchange for serving meals meeting federal nutrition standards at free or reduced prices to eligible children. Schools and child care institutions must maintain records of nonprofit food service operations and agree to operate programs available to all children regardless of race, sex, color, national origin, age, or disability. Place of performance is Ohio.