Educational Stability Grant

Educational Stability Grant Program Request for Applications 2025-2028

The Colorado Department of Education is currently accepting grant applications for the Educational Stability grant program (ESG). This year’s application process will take place via CDE’s Grant Administration, Implementation and Navigation System (GAINS). To learn more about GAINS please visit the CDE website. The following Word version of the Request for Applications can serve as a guide to the online application through GAINS.

The intent of the ESG grant awarded through the CDE is to address reducing educational barriers for students who experience high mobility by providing academic and social-emotional services and support to highly mobile students.

Applicants will be asked to frame their strategies, activities and performance measures around the following focus areas:

Academic Progress
Attendance Progress
Social-emotional and Behavioral Outcomes

Grant awards are for a consecutive three-year period. Approximately $825,000 is available for the 2025-2026 school year, with funding contingent on annual appropriations from the State Legislature. CDE anticipates awarding approximately 10 grants each year for a three-year period. Eligible applicants may apply for up to $100,000. Funding in subsequent years for grantees is contingent upon continued appropriations and upon grantees meeting all grant, fiscal and reporting requirements.

The submission of an Intent to Apply is not required but highly encouraged. Please submit by Wednesday, April 9, 2025, if you are planning to submit an RFA.

A webinar to learn more about the application and ask your questions will be held Tuesday, March 25, 2025, from 12-1:00pm Register to attend.

Application Resources (Also available through GAINS)

ESG RFA (for reference only)
Attachment A: Number of Highly Mobile Students by LEA/BOCES
Attachment B: Highly Mobile Student Framework for Service and Supports
Attachment C: SMART Goal Development and Performance Measure Worksheet
Attachment D: Overview of Evaluation End of Year Performance Report
Attachment E: Glossary of Terms

Program Questions:
Jamie Burciaga, State Coordinator for Foster Care Education
Burciaga_j@cde.state.co.us

Budget/Fiscal Questions:

Tricia Miller, Office of Grants Fiscal Management

Miller_t@cde.state.co.us

GAINS Questions:

Michelle Prael, Grants Program Administration
Prael_m@cde.state.co.us

Congratulations to the FY-2022 Educational Stability Grantees

Adams 12 Five Star Schools
CSI-New Legacy Charter
Greeley-Evans Weld County School District 6

Mapleton Public Schools
Montrose County School District RE-1J
Poudre School District

Pueblo County School District
Silverton School District 1
Thompson School District R2-J

History of the Grant Program

In 2018, Colorado passed House Bill 18-1306; Concerning Ensuring Educational Stability for Students in Out-of-Home Placement. This bill included the creation of the Educational Stability Grant Program, which is intended to support educational stability of highly mobile students. In this context, highly mobile refers to students who experience (or are at risk of experiencing) multiple school moves during their K-12 education outside of regular grade promotion. This includes youth in foster care, those experiencing homelessness, and migrant students. These student groups experience low graduation rates, high dropout rates, and tend to be disproportionately represented in disciplinary actions and are above the state average in special education designations.

Goals of the Grant Program

To improve educational experiences and outcomes for the following student populations that are negatively affected by high mobility:

Foster Care (or out-of-home placement)
Homeless/Unaccompanied homeless youth
Migrant

Intent of the Grant Program

The intent of the Educational Stability Grant Program is to provide academic and social-emotional services and supports to highly mobile students. The purpose of this funding opportunity is to remove educational barriers and support educational stability. The emphasis is on improving school attendance, reducing behavioral and discipline incidents, increasing grade-level promotion, reducing dropout rate, and increasing graduation and completion rates.

Educational Stability Grant Fact Sheet

Fact Sheet (Word)

Contact Information

Educational Stability Grant contact:

Jamie Burciaga

Cell: 303-518-5938

burciaga_j @cde.state.co.us