Topic
Follow the latest grants developments across US K-12 education. New grant programmes, applications opening, awards and recipients.
Last updated: October 6, 2026
As of October 7, 2026, K-12 News has published 12 grants stories over the last 30 days, across 7 states and 8 organizations. The most active states are Connecticut, Florida and Kansas.
Saddleback High School plans to use Hyundai funding to help build a half-acre learning farm, with a greenhouse, irrigation and composting stations for lessons in science, sustainability and agriculture.
Gettysburg Area School District has received more than $490,000 in state safety and mental health grants since Gov. Josh Shapiro took office, using some funds to hire social workers.
Connecticut’s education department selected 42 agencies from 70 applicants for tutoring funding. The state-funded program expands intensive math support from grades 6–9 to grades 6–10.
UCHealth’s $15,000 award to the APS Foundation will fund hands-on healthcare career learning for eighth graders and help expand the district’s Summer Bridge Program in the 2026-27 school year.
A five-year federal award starting in October 2026 will help Connecticut expand paid apprenticeships for aspiring special education teachers and develop early intervention training pathways.
Federal grants will help 249 schools in 29 Pennsylvania counties provide fresh produce during the school day. The program aims to increase fruit and vegetable consumption and improve students’ diets.
House members returned to their districts for a work period through early November after passing a measure extending federal funding through Dec. 11. The Senate remains scheduled to meet next week.
Schools in Massachusetts can apply for a share of $1 million in grants for cell phone-free schools, following the opening of applications by Gov. Healey.
A federal grant worth $8.4 million will support Kansas' educator workforce pipeline, with the funding intended to strengthen the state's supply of educators.
The Kansas State Department of Education reports that Kansas received $8.4 million in federal funding to support efforts to strengthen the state's educator pipeline.
Florida announced that Workforce Pell Grant funding is beginning to support short-duration training programs focused on careers, according to the state Department of Education.
A $6.6 million grant will support the Florida Department of Education in increasing opportunities for students in the state to gain experience through work-based learning.
Illinois is allocating $15 million for educator recruitment and retention in fiscal 2027. The 100 selected districts account for about 77% of reported teacher vacancies statewide.
Federal education officials proposed grant rules that would revise competition criteria, allow unspent funds to affect multiyear awards and favor applicants with lower indirect cost rates.
The five-year federal grant will expand small-group reading interventions for Connecticut K-3 students with significant reading difficulties across 75 elementary schools, with coaching for educators.
Pennsylvania announced $3.5 million in PAsmart grants to 17 organizations to broaden career pathways in advanced manufacturing, construction, digital technology and energy for learners statewide.
Connecticut awarded grants to 41 special education programs to expand local and regional services for students with disabilities and reduce reliance on out-of-district placements.
A total of $890,000 in education grants for civics instruction and student learning has been awarded in Massachusetts by the Healey-Driscoll administration.
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States are expanding career pathways and hands-on learning through grants, new facilities and work placements, including apprenticeships and work-based learning in Florida, paid AI internships in Massachusetts and a manufacturing lab at Mililani High School in Hawaii. Pennsylvania awarded $3.5 million to broaden career pathways, while Mississippi launched a statewide initiative connecting classroom lessons with college and careers for the 2026–27 school year. Rhode Island and Maryland are working with Advance CTE to expand pathway access with student participation in program and policy design. At the federal level, a stopgap spending measure maintained Perkins V career and technical education funding at current levels through December 11.
Special education services, IEPs, disability supports and related funding.
Recent grant announcements in Kansas, Florida, Connecticut and Colorado fund educator recruitment pathways, career training, early literacy and school meals. Kansas received $8.4 million in federal funding to strengthen its educator pipeline, while Florida announced the start of Workforce Pell Grant funding for short-term, career-focused training. Connecticut’s five-year, $10 million federal grant will expand small-group reading interventions and educator coaching across 75 elementary schools serving K–3 students with significant reading difficulties. Colorado announced $23.8 million in two noncompetitive grants to expand local food purchasing and scratch cooking in schools and raise nutrition workers’ pay.
School funding developments include increased state allocations in Illinois and continued federal career and technical education funding at current levels. Illinois’s fiscal 2027 evidence-based funding grew by $350 million to $9.3 billion, with every district receiving more than last year, while a federal stopgap measure extended Perkins V funding through December 11. Kansas received an $8.4 million federal grant to strengthen its educator pipeline. In Massachusetts, Gov. Healey appointed western Massachusetts K–12 education and universal preschool leaders to the Foundation Budget Review Commission.
States are funding educator recruitment and preparation and changing certification pathways: Kansas received an $8.4 million federal educator-pipeline grant, while Illinois allocated $15 million for recruitment and retention in 100 districts accounting for about 77% of reported teacher vacancies. Pennsylvania joined the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact to reduce certification barriers for eligible out-of-state teachers, and Connecticut opened registration for a free six-week paraeducator preparation academy. Teacher recognition programs also progressed from regional selections to finalists and statewide winners in Missouri and Iowa, while Colorado announced finalists and Hawaii, Kansas, Indiana, New York and Florida named 2027 Teachers of the Year.
Connecticut is expanding K–3 reading interventions and educator coaching through a five-year, $10 million grant covering 75 elementary schools, while Massachusetts is continuing early literacy tutoring funding for 338 schools and awarded nearly $25 million for literacy instruction. Nine Pennsylvania teacher preparation programs received accreditation aligned with structured literacy standards, and Mississippi designated science-of-reading schools and is implementing a statewide adolescent literacy initiative for 2026–27. Indiana reported its fifth consecutive year of rising literacy rates, while Colorado reported elementary literacy gains alongside persistent achievement gaps and declining middle school English language arts scores. In Maine, the number of students earning biliteracy recognition rose 18 percent, and the number of high schools offering it grew 11.5 percent.
Based on: $10,000 Hyundai grant supports Saddleback High’s plans for outdoor STEM learning
Based on: With Shapiro Administration Investments in Student Mental Health, Highly Qualified Social Workers Are Supporting Gettysburg Area School District Students
Based on: Connecticut State Department of Education Awards $2 Million in High-Dosage Tutoring Grants to 42 Local Education Agencies
Based on: Connecticut Receives $4.7 Million Federal Grant to Expand Special Education Workforce Pathways
Based on: Shapiro Administration: $7.3 Million Awarded to Schools to Purchase Fresh Fruits and Vegetables
Based on: Governor Healey Opens Applications for $1M in Cell Phone-Free Schools Grants
