Formula Grant 266TX332N1199

The Texas Department of Agriculture received a formula grant award of $2.598 billion 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. Through this award, TDA administers cash subsidies and USDA Foods to support the delivery of nutritionally balanced, low-cost and no-cost lunches to eligible school children across Texas. The funding enables participating public and nonprofit private schools, as well as residential child care institutions, to provide reimbursable meals that comply with federal nutritional standards and meal pattern requirements.

As the state administrative entity, TDA determines school eligibility, establishes written participation agreements with schools and institutions, and maintains oversight of nonprofit food service operations. The department sub-awards portions of funding to local school districts, charter schools, and community entities to facilitate direct meal service delivery to economically disadvantaged students. The National School Lunch Program operates on a formula-based allocation mechanism under a standing federal-state agreement, ensuring automatic state participation without competitive application requirements. Schools and institutions receiving meals through this program must maintain nonprofit food service operations available to all children regardless of demographic characteristics and must submit comprehensive records documenting finances, menu planning, meal counting, and compliance with program requirements.