OK, so you’ve finally convinced your school or district administrators that there is a HUGE need for training staff and student interventions outside the areas of reading, writing, and math. Yes, academics are important, but every educator knows that unless we put relationships before rigor, nothing else matters. 

As a smart and informed educator, your thought is to put a sustainable system in place first so that additional programs can align and complement rather than compete with each other. Naturally, that means implementing PBIS as the umbrella system. But your teachers also want to teach students Social Emotional Learning, improve school safety, and holistically implement Trauma-Informed Care. Awesome. So where do you go for funding for PBIS or those other programs? 

Here is a useful guide to Federal Funding Sources specifically for these types of programs. Keep in mind that many federal programs come and go with different administrations minding the White House or the DOE, so this is just a guide. Here is a summary:

Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)

• Title I - Improving the Academic Achievement of the Disadvantaged

  • Part A—Improving Basic Programs Operated by Local Educational Agencies. Schoolwide plans may fund counseling, school-based mental health programs, mentoring, non-academic skill building, school climate strategies, anti-bullying strategies, and positive behavior interventions and supports.

  • Part C – Education of Migratory Children. The purpose of this program is to reduce the educational disruptions and other problems that result from repeated moves experienced by children with migratory lifestyles.

  • Part D - Prevention and Intervention Programs for Children and Youth Who Are Neglected, Delinquent, Or At-Risk. This program addresses the transition of students from correctional facilities to the school environment and funds may be used for dropout prevention; coordination of health and social services, drug and alcohol counseling, and mental health services; and mentoring and peer mediation.

• Title II Part A – Supporting Effective Instruction

  • These funds support high quality and evidence-based professional development and can be used towards the following: use of data; multi-tier systems of support and positive behavioral intervention and supports; understanding and referral for children affected by trauma and children with or at risk of mental health disorders; addressing issues related to school conditions for student learning, such as safety, peer interaction, drug, and alcohol abuse, and chronic absenteeism; and prevention and recognition of child sexual abuse.

• Title IV – 21st Century Schools

  • Part A - Students Supports and Academic Enrichment Grants. The primary purpose of this grant is to improve conditions for student learning and to create safe and healthy environments. Funds may be used for: evidence-based drug and violence prevention strategies including education, identification and referral; mental health services, early identification, and referral; partnerships with mental health agencies; trauma-informed practices; anti-bullying and harassment strategies; relationship skills and prevention of dating and domestic violence; mentoring and school counseling; suicide prevention; child sexual abuse awareness and prevention; plans to reduce exclusionary discipline practices; positive behavioral interventions and supports; and resource coordinators.

  • Part B – 21st Century Community Learning Centers. Programs may include youth development activities, drug and violence prevention programs, and counseling programs.

  • Part F – National Programs – Promise Neighborhoods and Full-Service Community Schools. The purposes of these programs include improving the academic and developmental outcomes of children in high-poverty communities and may include supports for transitions; social, health, nutrition, and mental health services and supports; and juvenile crime prevention and rehabilitation programs.

• Title V Part B – Rural Education Initiative

  • The Small, Rural School Achievement Program and the Rural activities authorized under Part A of Title I, Part A of Title II and Low-Income School Program may be used to carry out Part A or B of Title IV.

• Title VI Part A – Indian Education

  • Subpart 1 - Formula Grants to Local Educational Agencies. These funds may be used towards activities for prevention of violence, suicide, and substance abuse; dropout prevention strategies; and strategies to meet the educational needs of at-risk students in correctional facilities, including such strategies that support Native American students in transition to school environments.

  • Subpart 2 - Special Programs and Projects to Improve Educational Opportunities for Indian Children - Improvement of Educational Opportunities for Indian Children. The purpose of this grant is to develop and test the effectiveness of programs serving Native American children and may address their special health, social and psychological needs; increase academic engagement and graduation, and provide early childhood programs.

Other Federal Programs

• Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)

  • Up to 15 percent of funds may be used to develop and implement coordinated, early intervening services for students who have not been identified as needing special education or related services but who need additional academic and behavioral support to succeed in a general education environment. Activities may include: professional development for teachers and other school staff to enable such personnel to deliver scientifically-based academic instruction and behavioral interventions; and providing educational and behavioral evaluations, services, and supports.

• McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act - Education for Homeless Children and Youths

  • These funds may support the following: professional development on understanding the needs and rights of homeless and runaway children and youth; referral to medical, dental, mental, and other health services; developmentally appropriate early childhood education programs; violence prevention counseling and referral; and programs to address needs that arise from domestic violence and parental mental health or substance abuse problems.

• Federal Competitive Grants

  • Competitive grants administered by the federal government change regularly and have included programs through the US Department of Education (School Climate Transformation), the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (Project AWARE), and most recently the US Department of Justice (STOP School Violence). Applications are typically made available in Spring or Summer

Let us know what programs you need to implement on your campus to help support your students and we can help guide you to the best possible source of federal or state funding to make it happen. We can even help you identify and use the language necessary to make your application successful. Contact us and let us know how we can partner together to improve outcomes for your students.