Federal Grant Award Summary

The Louisiana Department of Education received a formula grant award of $53.16 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service for 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 Louisiana's public and nonprofit private schools and residential child care institutions. As the state education agency, the Louisiana Department of Education serves as the administrative entity responsible for determining school eligibility, managing written agreements with participating institutions, and overseeing compliance with federal nutritional requirements and meal pattern standards.

The grant funds are distributed through sub-awards to local school districts, charter schools, nonprofit organizations, and community providers across Louisiana to facilitate direct meal service delivery at the school level. Participating schools and institutions must maintain nonprofit food service operations available to all children regardless of demographic characteristics, while maintaining comprehensive records documenting nonprofit food service finances, meal counting, menu planning, and production activities. This formula grant represents the department's role as the prime recipient in administering the National School Lunch Program statewide, with estimated annual allocations supporting meal service operations for school children throughout the state.