Tobacco-Use Prevention and Youth Engagement Grant (Cohort 2026–29)

The Tobacco-Use Prevention and Youth Engagement (TPYE) Grant for Cohort 2026–29 is administered by the California Department of Education (CDE). This grant opportunity stems from the state's ongoing efforts to combat tobacco use among youth, leveraging funds allocated through Propositions 56 and 99. These propositions, embedded in the California Health and Safety Code, direct state tobacco tax revenues toward health-related programs, including school-based tobacco-use prevention. The grant reflects a broader public health strategy aligned with declining trends in youth tobacco and vaping use, as measured by the California Youth Tobacco Survey, which reported a drop from 10.5% in 2018 to 5.0% in 2024. The grant is structured as a three-year funding cycle spanning July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2029. Funding is calculated based on a fixed rate of $18 per student in grades six through twelve, using enrollment data from the 2024–25 academic year. While the maximum request per applicant is capped at $750,000, the minimum award amount is set at $75,000, ensuring baseline support for smaller school agencies. Any applicant whose calculated allocation falls below this threshold must submit a budget request for $75,000. The number of awards issued will depend on application quality, student enrollment counts, and total available funds, which are estimated at $12 million. Only public agencies, including school districts, direct-funded charter schools, and county offices of education (COEs) in California that serve grades six through twelve, are eligible to apply. A key requirement is certification as tobacco-free by July 1, 2026. Applicants must also adhere to budgetary rules that mandate allocating at least 80% of funds toward student services, including no less than 20% dedicated to engaging health disparity (HD) populations. These provisions aim to ensure that both general and underserved student populations receive targeted intervention and education services. The application process requires prospective applicants to submit an Intent to Submit (ITS) form via the TUPE GEMS portal before the application deadline. Full applications must also be submitted through TUPE GEMS. Each eligible lead agency may submit only one application. Notably, applicants are no longer sorted by geographic regions but are instead grouped into rural and urban locales for competitive consideration. A fixed 25% of available funds will go to rural applicants, with the remainder allocated to urban ones. To support applicants, the TUPE Office will host a live technical assistance webinar. This webinar, along with a compiled list of questions and answers, will be recorded and posted on the TUPE GEMS Resources page and the CDE grant webpage within five days of the session. The grant portal also provides access to all application materials and ongoing updates. The submission deadline for this grant is January 23, 2026, at 5:00 PM. Awards are expected to be announced by April 15, 2026. The grant program follows a non-recurring schedule aligned with available funding cycles and tobacco tax revenue trends. For inquiries, applicants may contact the Tobacco-Use Prevention Education Office via phone at 916-323-1540 or email at tupe@cde.ca.gov.

Ensure budget meets 80/20 requirement for student and HD services.