Federal Grant Award Summary

The South Carolina Department of Education received a Formula Grant award of $41.7 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 school children across South Carolina's public and nonprofit private schools, as well as residential child care institutions.

As the state administering agency, SCDOE is responsible for determining school eligibility, managing participation agreements with schools and institutions, and maintaining comprehensive records of nonprofit food service operations. The state agency distributes sub-awards to local school districts and school food authorities, which directly provide meal services to eligible children while ensuring compliance with federal meal pattern requirements and nutritional standards. Schools participating in the program must serve meals at free or reduced prices to eligible children and maintain detailed records of their nonprofit food service operations for state review.