Kent Intermediate School District

Kent Intermediate School District, doing business as Kent ISD, is a U.S. local government entity and regional educational service agency based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, that receives federal grant funding as a prime recipient (12% of recent awards) and substantially as a sub-recipient (88%) flowing through the Michigan Department of Education, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, and other state intermediaries. Kent ISD serves approximately 120,000 students across more than 300 schools spanning 20 public school districts, 3 non-public districts, and public school academies in Kent County, Michigan (population 657,974), and does not hold federal contracts or IDVs — its federal footprint is entirely grant-based.

Kent ISD's prime grant awards center on K–12 literacy, child nutrition, and school safety. A $750,000 prime grant from the U.S. Department of Education Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (CFDA 84.215), awarded June 1, 2026, through June 1, 2029, funds the Innovative Approaches to Literacy program, supporting school library programs, early literacy services, and book distribution to underserved schools. A $100,000 Department of Agriculture Farm to School Grant Program award (CFDA 10.575), dated July 22, 2024, with a June 30, 2026 completion date, supports local food procurement, school gardens, agricultural education, and farm-to-school supply chain development. A Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Assistance grant (October 1, 2022, through September 30, 2026) funds a regional behavioral threat assessment intelligence analyst position within Kent ISD's Safety and Security Department, coordinating multidisciplinary threat assessment teams across constituent districts and standardizing threat reporting and data collection at the regional level. Kent ISD also received a $750,000 Department of Education Office of Elementary and Secondary Education congressionally directed spending award (September 1, 2022, ultimate completion September 30, 2023).

Sub-recipient activity dominates the portfolio — 79 of 90 total awards (88%). The Michigan Department of Education is the dominant prime grantee flowing funds to Kent ISD, with sub-awards spanning special education (IDEA Part B preschool grants, Part C Early On), career and technical education (Perkins V), English language acquisition, Title I regional assistance, education for homeless children and youth, and coronavirus fiscal recovery funds. The Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity channels adult education and family literacy state grants, including Integrated English Literacy and Civics Education (IELCE) components. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services sub-awards substance use home visiting program funding. Western Michigan University passes Promise Neighborhoods and Grand Rapids Southeast Promise Neighborhood Project grants to Kent ISD as a collaborating partner on cradle-to-career community development work in southeast Grand Rapids.

Customer concentration aligns tightly with K–12 education and workforce development. The Department of Education's three operating divisions—Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (30 awards), Elementary and Secondary Education (28 awards), and Career Technical and Adult Education (15 awards)—account for the top three funding sources. The Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families (5 awards) and the Department of Education Office of English Language Acquisition (3 awards) round out the active set. Combined, these five fund 90% of awards. Award velocity has grown from 10 per year in 2022–2023 to 22 in 2024 and 20 in 2025. Combined dollars obligated across all 90 awards total $335.2 million, reflecting Kent ISD's role as a regional pass-through for federal education support to constituent school systems across Kent County.