Funding Sources for SEL: Federal and State Opportunities | By: Kelly Doscher In August 2017, Committee for Children and Jennifer House, President of RedRock Reports, hosted an in-depth webinar* that examined federal education funding allocations, what spending qualifies for which provisions, and state-level SEL funding opportunities. In this overview, we break down the webinar into shorter video sections to help you find the information most useful for your situation. Ms. House’s informed, concise delivery will help you better understand where you stand and how to seek out the types of funding your school or district is eligible for. And although some of the application deadlines discussed in the video have passed, this webinar is chock-full of useful information that will help you to be informed and prepared for the next round of applications. Jump to the Topic You’re Most Interested In [Video & PDF Links] The Big Funding Picture A Snapshot of the 2016-17 ESSA Transition Process—From NCLB to ESSA ESSA and SEL A Snapshot of TODAY’s Funding Picture—SEL Funding—The Big Picture New Opportunities in Funding – Early Childhood Funds Federal and State SEL Funding Matrix—Funding Tool Call to Action—What You Need to Do How our Second Step Outreach Managers can help you in your funding process NOTE: We’ve included links to PDF images of the webinar’s PowerPoint presentation to help you see, save, and print the information that suits your needs. Hosted by Committee for Children’s Jennifer Sanderlin (Balogh), Territory Manager, and presented by Jennifer House, Ph.D., President of RedRock Reports. The Big Funding Picture—Introduction and Agenda Get to know Jennifer House, PhD, President of RedRock Reports Webinar agenda and what to expect Overview of state, local, and federal funding that may be available for your school or district to purchase SEL curricula [Slides 1-5] A Snapshot of the 2016–17 ESSA Transition Process: From NCLB to ESSA In this section, Ms. House explains the transition from No Child Left Behind (NCLB) to the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) [Slide 6] ESSA and SEL ESSA eliminated 49 programs, including many that support the comprehensive needs of students, such as: Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities State Grants (Title IV, Part A, Subpart 1) National Center for School and Youth Safety (Title IV, Part A, Subpart 2, Sec. 4128) And others New program that’s part of ESSA: Title IV, Part A, Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grants Focus on “safe, healthy, and drug-free environments that support student academic achievement” Includes bullying and harassment prevention Includes improving instructional practices to develop relationship-building skills Includes implementing schoolwide positive behavioral interventions and supports [Slides 7-12] A Snapshot of TODAY’s Funding Picture: SEL Funding—The Big Picture In this section, Ms. House talks in-depth about the current federal, state, local, and private funding landscapes and how your school(s) or districts can benefit from the programs available. [Slide 13] New Opportunities in Funding—Early Childhood Funds Learn about these new opportunities and whether they apply to your situation. IDEA Preschool Development Grants Caplan Foundation for Early Childhood Promise Neighborhoods—new grant focusing on rural or tribal areas. [Slides 14-15] Federal and State SEL Funding Matrix—Funding Tool Ms. House explains how to use the funding matrix tool Committee for Children and RedRock Reports have put together to help educators and administrators locate, understand, and pursue the SEL funds that apply to their schools and districts. [Slides 16-20] Call to Action Ms. House tells you how to prepare for the funding process. Get familiar with your state and district ESSA plans. Align your programs with ESSA federal and state funding requirements. Watch as your state budgets are passed for more funds. Get your stories ready now to insert in upcoming grant applications. The turnaround time can be very short! [Slide 21] Final Notes How the Second Step team at Committee for Children can help you in your funding process. [Slides 22, 23] Key Takeaway? Be Ready! We’re Here to Help We know that procuring funding for SEL programs can be a challenging, and sometimes frustrating task. We urge you to take advantage of the information available in the Federal and State SEL Funding Matrix we’ve shared here and hope this webinar overview is a helpful tool that will be an ongoing resource for your funding endeavors. Remember, our Outreach Team is here to help you with many facets of your funding application journey. Please feel free to call us at any time. We’re here to help! Contact Us Today *Funding allocations for some of the programs listed in this webinar have changed. Go to the 2018 budget for details. Learn more about social-emotional learning, research on the topic, and how it benefits students in the classroom, at home, and in their daily lives.