CNP CN block programs total consolidated

The Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service awarded $18,976,828 to the South Dakota Department of Education on October 1, 2025, under the National School Lunch Program (CFDA 10.555) to provide nutritionally balanced, low-cost or no-cost lunches to school children in South Dakota through September 30, 2026.

The recipient, the South Dakota Department of Education (doing business as Deca), administers the award as the state agency responsible for determining school eligibility, reviewing written applications, and making written participation agreements with participating school food authorities. The award is one of multiple concurrent NSLP formula grants the department manages; a separate $24.2 million NSLP award covers the same performance period.

The department distributes the vast majority of funding as sub-awards to over 70 local educational agencies, school districts, nonprofit organizations, and community providers across South Dakota to operate school lunch programs. Sub-recipients include urban and rural school districts of varying size (Sioux Falls School District No. 49-5, Rapid City Area School District 51-4, and small districts such as Menno School District 33-2 and Clark School District 12-2); tribal schools and the Bureau of Indian Education serving Native American populations (Crazy Horse School, Porcupine School, American Horse School, Wakpala School District, Oglala Lakota County School District, and Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe); non-profit child care and youth-serving organizations (Kidkare Family Daycare Association, Inter-Lakes Community Action Partnership, Northeast SD Headstart Program Inc., Oahe Child Development Center, The Boys & Girls Club of Rosebud, Boys and Girls Club of Aberdeen Area, Youth and Family Services Inc., and Rapid City Club For Boys Inc.); and residential facilities (Children's Care Hospital and School, operating as Lifescape; Children's Home Society of South Dakota; and Our Home Inc.). Participating schools and institutions must serve lunches meeting federal meal pattern requirements and offer meals at free or reduced price to eligible children.