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

The Tobacco-Use Prevention Education (TUPE) Initiation Grant, Tier 1, Cohort U, is administered by the California Department of Education (CDE) through its Tobacco-Use Prevention Education Office. The grant is governed under California Health and Safety Code Section 104420 and originates from Proposition 99—the 1988 voter-approved Tobacco Tax and Health Protection Act. This act mandated the CDE to provide prevention programs aimed at educating youth on the dangers of tobacco use. The TUPE program targets students in grades six through twelve and aims to reduce tobacco, vape, and nicotine usage through school-based education, youth development, and intervention initiatives. Oversight for this effort is provided by the Tobacco Education and Research Oversight Committee (TEROC), whose members include professionals from health, education, advocacy, and public service sectors. The purpose of the Tier 1, Cohort U Initiation Grant is to fund local educational agencies (LEAs), including county offices of education, public school districts, and direct-funded charter schools, to establish and enforce comprehensive tobacco-free school policies and implement the California Healthy Kids Survey (CHKS). These efforts aim to decrease tobacco and nicotine use among California youth, who remain vulnerable to addiction and health impacts. The grant emphasizes early prevention and prioritizes interventions that reflect disparities in use, including higher prevalence rates among LGBTQ students, those with poor mental health, and students in rural districts. The funded programs must prohibit the use of all tobacco and nicotine products, including e-cigarettes and marijuana via vaping, on school property and at school events. Funding for this grant totals up to $6,000 per applicant (or per LEA in a consortium) for the three-year period from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2028. Funds are to be used exclusively for tobacco-use prevention activities. Grantees may not use these funds to support other programs or duplicate costs already funded from other sources. Allowable expenses include enforcement of tobacco-free policies, CHKS implementation, and, where applicable, optional additional services such as public awareness activities, family engagement, or professional development. Optional services can only be implemented after required program elements are in place and funding remains unspent. Applicants must adhere to strict reporting, documentation, and inventory requirements. Eligibility is limited to COEs, public school districts, and direct-funded charter schools serving grades 6–12. Consortium applications are permitted, with one lead agency designated for fiscal and program oversight. Applicants must not have received support from the tobacco, vaping, or marijuana industries. Currently funded Tier 1 and Tier 2 grantees with active grants extending beyond June 30, 2025, are ineligible. The program has strict requirements regarding the enforcement of tobacco-free policies, submission of the CHKS at required grade levels, and participation in the California Youth Tobacco Survey (CYTS) if selected. The application process requires prospective applicants to submit an Intent to Submit (ITS) notice by March 28, 2025, at 5 p.m. and a full application via the TUPE Grant Electronic Management System (GEMS) by April 18, 2025, at 5 p.m. No paper or email submissions are accepted. The application includes general information, consortium member directories, narrative responses about tobacco policy and survey administration, assurances, and budget details. A Letter of Support is required for single LEA applications and Memoranda of Understanding for consortium applications. Authorized signatures from the Superintendent or Designee must be included electronically via DocuSign within TUPE GEMS. Following submission, applications are screened for eligibility, reviewed by independent readers using a 12-point scoring rubric, and ranked within six geographic categories (Northern, Central, Southern; Urban or Rural). Notifications of disqualification will be sent by April 23, 2025. The Intent to Award list is expected in May 2025, followed by the Final Funding List and Grant Award Notifications in June 2025. The grant performance period begins on July 1, 2025. The TUPE program is recurring and may continue beyond this cycle subject to legislative appropriations and TEROC recommendations.

Ensure compliance with CHKS and tobacco-free certification prior to applying; incomplete or improperly signed submissions will be disqualified.