California Serves Grant Program 2026-27
🏛 CA Department of Education (California)
✓ Free, no account · Source: California Grants Portal · Last verified Oct 7, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for California school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools that want to expand service-learning opportunities. Eligible applicants must be local educational agencies (LEAs) serving high school students. The grant focuses on promoting access to effective service-learning and helping students obtain a State Seal of Civic Engagement.
Eligible activities include paid teacher planning time, professional development on service-learning, instructional materials, student participation costs, personnel for coordination, and program evaluation. All activities must directly support service-learning integration in grade 12 instruction.
Geographic scope is limited to California. Schools must demonstrate commitment to expanding service-learning access for graduating seniors.
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Program description
The California Department of Education invites eligible local educational agencies, which include school districts, county offices of education, or charter schools, to apply for a California Serves Grant to be used for the purpose of promoting access to effective service-learning with the goal of expanding access for high school graduates in obtaining a State Seal of Civic Engagement through service-learning. Grant funding can be used for a wide range of purposes that promote access to effective service-learning for students in grade twelve, with the goal of expanding access for high school graduates in obtaining a State Seal of Civic Engagement through service-learning. Allowable expenditures may include: Paid planning time for teachers to increase the use of service-learning in instruction. Professional development on service learning for administrators and teachers. Purchase of instructional materials to help integrate service-learning in instruction. Participation costs, including materials or travel expenses related to service-learning activities. Personnel costs for coordinating service-learning at the local educational agency or a school site. Participation costs associated with grant program evaluation. Applicants must submit a Notice of Intent to Apply by 4 p.m. on Tuesday, September 8, 2026. See the Request for Applications for guidance on submitting the Notice of Intent to Apply. For any questions about the California Serves Grant Program, please contact Sarah Smith by email at SSCE@cde.ca.gov.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- Notice of Intent to Apply (due September 8, 2026)
- Application form or narrative (due October 5, 2026)
- Project budget and budget narrative
- Description of service-learning activities and goals
- Plan for reaching and supporting high school seniors
- Evidence of organizational capacity
Program contact
- 📧 SSCE@cde.ca.gov
- 📞 1-916-323-6269
FAQ
Who can apply for this grant?
California school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools can apply. Your organization must be a local educational agency (LEA) serving high school students.
What is the deadline?
A Notice of Intent to Apply is due September 8, 2026. The full application deadline is October 5, 2026.
What can grant funds be used for?
Funds support teacher planning time, professional development, instructional materials, student participation costs, personnel coordination, and program evaluation—all for service-learning activities.
How much funding is available?
The total funding pool is $5,000,000, with individual awards up to $500,000.
Is cost-sharing required?
No. This grant does not require matching funds or cost-sharing from your organization.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Submit your Notice of Intent early. The September 8 deadline comes before the full application, so plan ahead and ensure leadership approves your intent to apply.
- Align your service-learning plan with California's State Seal of Civic Engagement requirements. Show how your project helps seniors earn this credential.
- Detail how funds will expand access. Explain which student populations currently lack service-learning opportunities and how your project removes barriers.
- Budget for teacher time and professional development. Strong applications invest in educator capacity to sustain service-learning beyond the grant period.
- Connect service-learning to grade 12 curriculum. Demonstrate how you'll integrate service projects into existing courses or create dedicated service-learning pathways for seniors.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applicants fail to connect their service-learning activities directly to California's State Seal of Civic Engagement requirements. Schools underestimate the importance of investing in teacher planning time and professional development. Proposals lack clear strategies to expand access for underrepresented or underserved student populations.
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