Independent School District 79

Independent School District 79, operating as Duluth Public Schools, is a U.S. local government school district based in Duluth, Minnesota that receives federal grant funding as a prime recipient and sub-recipient under education and early-childhood programs, with no federal contracting activity.

Duluth Public Schools' federal footprint centers on formula grants and pass-through sub-awards from the Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services. The district operates as prime recipient on direct grants from the Department of Education's Office of Elementary and Secondary Education under the Indian Education Grants to Local Educational Agencies program (CFDA 84.060), with annual awards ranging from $171,921 to $200,776 for fiscal years 2022 through 2026. These grants fund academic instruction, cultural programming, teacher professional development, and targeted support services for American Indian and Alaska Native students in Duluth, designed to help those students meet state academic standards while preserving cultural heritage. The district also holds a Head Start project grant of $1,290,172 from the Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families (CFDA 93.600), awarded July 31, 2026, to deliver preschool programming for 3- and 4-year-old children and family engagement services through December 31, 2026.

The vast majority of Duluth Public Schools' federal activity flows through sub-award pass-throughs from the Minnesota Department of Education. Of 57 total awards in the source data, 29 are sub-awards (51%) received as a sub-recipient; the district has acted as prime recipient on 28 awards (49%). Sub-awards from Minnesota Department of Education span multiple program streams, including special education, Title I education services, McKinney-Vento homeless education, the American Rescue Plan, and the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program. The Department of Education's Office of Elementary and Secondary Education accounts for 38 awards across the footprint, with the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services adding 8 awards. The district has also received sub-awards from the Administration for Children and Families, reflecting early-intervention and Head Start pipeline work.

Year-over-year activity shows volatility: the district received 1 award in 2022, 8 in 2023, 17 in 2024, 5 in 2025, and 3 awards through mid-2026. Combined obligated dollars across all awards total $82.4 million, though the combined potential value reported is $1 thousand, indicating that the vast majority of the district's federal portfolio consists of completed or substantially obligated grants rather than open ceiling vehicles. Two awards face ultimate completion within the next twenty-four months, representing minimal recompete exposure in that window. Duluth Public Schools does not serve as a vendor to federal contractors; the district's federal footprint reflects its role as a local educational agency receiving education and early-childhood development grants for direct service to students and families in the Duluth area.