Tobacco-Use Prevention Education Program Initiation Grant Tier 1, Cohort U

The Tobacco-Use Prevention Education (TUPE) Initiation Grant Tier 1, Cohort U is a state-funded grant opportunity offered by the California Department of Education (CDE) for the fiscal years 2025–2028. The grant is designed to support local educational agencies (LEAs) serving students in grades six through twelve in California by implementing programs aimed at preventing and reducing tobacco, vape, and nicotine use among youth. The TUPE grant aligns with California Health and Safety Code Section 104420, requiring grantees to establish tobacco-free school policies and administer the California Healthy Kids Survey (CHKS) to evaluate program effectiveness. The application period opens on March 12, 2025, with a required Intent to Submit (ITS) form due by March 28, 2025, at 5 p.m. The full application deadline is April 18, 2025, at 5 p.m. Applications must be submitted through the TUPE Grant Electronic Management System (GEMS). The review process includes initial screening by the CDE, followed by independent evaluation using a scoring rubric. An Intent to Award (ITA) list will be posted in May 2025, with the final funding list and Grant Award Notifications (GANs) issued in June 2025. The three-year grant period begins July 1, 2025, and runs through June 30, 2028. Eligible applicants include county offices of education (COEs), school districts, direct-funded charter schools, and consortia of LEAs. Individual schools, private schools, community agencies, and locally-funded charter schools are not eligible. Applicants must ensure they do not receive funding or support from the tobacco, vaping, or marijuana industries. The grant provides a maximum of $6,000 per LEA for all three years, and consortia may request $6,000 per LEA included in the application. Grant funds must be used strictly for tobacco-use prevention education, including enforcing Tobacco-Free School Policies, administering CHKS, and supporting youth prevention efforts. Grantees may propose optional additional services, such as public awareness campaigns, educational materials, and community engagement programs. However, all required elements must be fulfilled before utilizing funds for additional services. Applications must include detailed narratives on policy implementation, monitoring and evaluation strategies, and adherence to CHKS administration requirements. Scoring is based on the clarity and feasibility of these responses. Applications ranking highest within six geographic categories (Northern/Central/Southern Urban and Rural) will receive funding until available funds are exhausted. Applicants with questions may contact the Tobacco-Use Prevention Education Office at tupe@cde.ca.gov or call 916-323-1540. Additional application resources, including a Guidance PowerPoint and budget instructions, will be available on the CDE TUPE Funding website and the TUPE GEMS portal.