Federal Grant Award Summary

The Mississippi Department of Education received a Formula Grant award of $150.1 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service under the National School Lunch Program (CFDA 10.555), effective October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026. This award provides cash subsidies and USDA Foods to support the delivery of nutritionally balanced, low-cost or no-cost lunches to eligible school children throughout Mississippi's public and nonprofit private schools and residential child care institutions.

As the state education agency, the Mississippi Department of Education administers the program by sub-awarding funds to local school districts, charter schools, and nonprofit organizations to facilitate direct meal service delivery. Participating schools receiving these funds must maintain compliance with federal meal pattern requirements, serve meals to eligible children at free or reduced prices as appropriate, and maintain comprehensive records of their nonprofit food service operations. The National School Lunch Program operates under a standing federal-state agreement framework, making Mississippi's participation automatic as the designated state administering agency without requiring competitive application.