School Quality and Equity Strategy Grants

Geographic Scope: Washington, DC

Program Status: Active (announced within first five years of Education Forward DC's work)

Overview:
Grants complementing the Schools grant making that support visionary leaders tackling challenges around special education, school-based mental health, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) as means to significantly improve student learning experiences.

Focus Areas:

• School-Based Mental Health encompassing three domains:
  • Social-emotional learning (SEL): process through which students and adults learn to manage themselves and interact with others
  • Trauma-informed practices: instructional practices aimed at building relationships to help students overcome negative impacts of trauma
  • Clinical mental health services: supports for students experiencing behavioral health conditions
• Special education support
• Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives

What They Fund:

• Partnerships with schools to integrate mental health and SEL into school design
• Community of Practice models for school leaders
• Whole child, whole school approaches to education
• Development of learning experiences, coaching structures, and resources

Target Population:
DC students, particularly those affected by trauma (nearly 50% of DC students have experienced traumatic events; nearly 25% have experienced more than one)

Geographic Focus: Washington, DC schools

Contact Information:
Shalini Shybut, Principal on Schools and Human Capital grant making team