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The Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service awarded the American Samoa Department of Education $5.839 million on October 1, 2025, under the National School Lunch Program (CFDA 10.555), a formula grant that provides cash assistance and USDA Foods to support nutritious nonprofit lunch service in schools.

The award funds the delivery of nutritionally balanced, low-cost or no-cost lunches to school children throughout American Samoa, with participating schools receiving cash subsidies and USDA Foods for each reimbursable meal served. Eligible children receive free or reduced-price meals; school food authorities must maintain nonprofit operations serving all children regardless of race, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), color, national origin, age, or disability, and must comply with Federal meal pattern requirements. The American Samoa Department of Education, as the state education agency for the territory, administers the program and coordinates with schools and residential child care institutions to operate compliant food services.

The award runs through September 30, 2027, with place of performance throughout the United States, including American Samoa. The American Samoa Department of Education sub-awards portions of National School Lunch Program funding to local schools and educational service providers to deliver school meal programs and related nutrition services. The department maintains comprehensive records of nonprofit food service operations, including finances, meal counting and claiming, and menu planning, for review by the Food and Nutrition Service.