The Tobacco-Use Prevention Education (TUPE) Program Rural Initiative Center Grant is a funding opportunity provided by the California Department of Education (CDE) using settlement funds from JUUL, allocated by the California Department of Justice. The grant aims to support youth education and outreach initiatives focused on tobacco prevention, particularly in underserved rural student communities in California. The funding will be used to establish up to two Rural Initiative Centers to increase student access to TUPE services.
The program is exclusively available to county offices of education (COEs) in California that are certified as tobacco-free by July 1, 2025. The grant is specifically intended to serve students in rural school communities, and districts that are already participating in a TUPE Tier 1 or Tier 2 grant are not eligible for subawards. The program targets students in grades 6-12.
For the 2025-26 fiscal year, $1,000,000 is available in total funding. Each awarded recipient will receive $500,000 per fiscal year for three years, covering both direct and indirect costs associated with operating a Rural Initiative Center, including funding a subaward program for rural school districts. There is no matching funds requirement.
The application period opens on March 12, 2025, and the submission deadline is May 2, 2025. Grant award notifications are expected by June 1, 2025. Applications must be submitted following the guidelines set by the CDE, though specific application materials were not available at the time of posting.
The Tobacco-Use Prevention Education Office within the CDE administers the program. Interested applicants can reach out to the TUPE Office via tupe@cde.ca.gov or by calling 916-323-1540 for program-related inquiries and 916-323-1570 for fiscal-related questions. The grant falls under the Whole Child Division of the CDE, which can be reached at 916-323-1540 (phone) or 916-319-0218 (fax).
