Federal Grant Award Summary

The Mississippi Department of Education received a $2.79 million formula grant award from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) 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, supports the state agency's administrative functions in overseeing and providing technical assistance for federal child nutrition initiatives, including the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Special Milk Program, and Child and Adult Care Food Program. The funding enables the state to manage critical food service operations such as meal reimbursement processing, commodity distribution oversight, and technical support to local schools, school districts, and child care institutions across Mississippi.

This formula grant allocation is determined by a federally established methodology based on the state's prior-year child nutrition program expenditures rather than competitive selection. The funding supports the state's capacity to administer these vital nutrition programs, maintain required accounting records, and comply with federal oversight requirements, including annual single audits. The Mississippi Department of Education, through its Office of Grants Management and Budget, serves as the intermediary between federal funding and local educational institutions, ensuring effective distribution and implementation of child nutrition resources throughout the state.