The grant proposal submission period for the 2026-27 District Grant for Effective Schools funding opportunityis open. Proposals must be submitted Tuesday, April 14, 2026, no later than 4:00 p.m. Central Time.
The nine public school districts in The Rapides Foundation service area are invited to apply for the 2026-2027 District Grant for Effective Schools. The purpose of this grant is to support districtwide school improvement plans aimed at increasing educational attainment and improving student achievement.
Grant funds may support district plan components that address professional development for teachers and/or strengthen leadership capacity within the district. Districts should determine areas of greatest need for teacher and leadership development and then address them in a defensible way that continues to deepen previous work in these areas. Districts may initiate new professional development or leadership strategies in core areas as long as those strategies follow a comprehensive data analysis.
Maximum district funding amounts are based on district characteristics and student population. Funding amounts are provided to the districts individually.
Effective Schools grant proposals must be submitted using The Rapides Foundation's online application process (link in right column). Applicants should review the detailed Request for Updated Proposals and supporting documents thoroughly prior to proposal submission (found in Key Materials section in right column).
All applications must be submitted using the online submission process. Submission Deadline: Tuesday, April 14, 2026, 4:00 p.m. Central Time.
Note: All required documents for the Full Proposal must be fully submitted by the deadline, therefore, you must begin uploading the completed proposal prior to that time. It is suggested you allow a minimum of three (3) hours for the upload process. If you have already started an application, use the "Return to my Application" button or click the Grantee Login tab located in the black bar at the top of the website page.
For questions related to this funding opportunity, contact:
Ashley StewartDirector of Programs