School Quality and Equity Strategy Grants

School Quality and Equity Strategy Grants

Funder: Education Forward DC

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
Email: shalini@edforwarddc.org