Federal Grant Award Summary

The Montana Office of Public Instruction received a formula grant award of $424,806.50 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service under the State Administrative Expenses for Child Nutrition program (CFDA 10.560). The award, effective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2027, provides funding for the state agency's administrative expenses in supervising and delivering technical assistance related to child nutrition initiatives. These administrative functions include meal reimbursement processing, oversight of commodity distribution, and technical support to local schools, school districts, and child care institutions participating in federal child nutrition programs such as the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, and Child and Adult Care Food Program.

As the state educational agency responsible for administering child nutrition programs in Montana, the Office of Public Instruction uses these funds to manage critical food service operations and ensure compliance with federal requirements across the state's participating schools and institutions. The formula-based allocation is calculated according to the prior-year expenditures under the applicable child nutrition programs. Grant administration requires the state agency to maintain detailed accounting records, execute a written agreement with the federal agency, and conduct annual single audits to document fund authorizations, obligations, expenditures, and carryover balances.