Truants’ Alternative/Optional Ed
🏛 Illinois State Board of Education
Can you apply?
This grant is for Illinois organizations serving students with attendance problems and dropouts up to age 21. School districts, nonpublic schools, and other Illinois educational institutions are typically eligible.
The program funds truancy prevention, intervention services, and alternative education models. Eligible activities include personnel costs, equipment, materials, professional development, and contracted services.
Applicants cannot use funds for facility construction, out-of-state travel, student incentives, or software purchases. Administrative costs are capped at 5% of the award.
This grant is for Illinois organizations serving students with attendance problems and dropouts up to age 21. School districts, nonpublic schools, and other Illinois educational institutions are typically eligible.
The program funds truancy prevention, intervention services, and alternative education models. Eligible activities include personnel costs, equipment, materials, professional development, and contracted services.
Applicants cannot use funds for facility construction, out-of-state travel, student incentives, or software purchases. Administrative costs are capped at 5% of the award.
Program description
To serve students with attendance problems and/or dropouts up to and including those who are 21 years of age and provide truancy prevention and intervention services to students and their parents and/or serve as part-time or full-time options to regular school attendance. To increase school attendance and the high school graduation rate. Funds are used to support approved grant activities to increase attendance and graduation rates:
a) Salaries and other fixed costs for approved personnel.
b) Equipment, material, and supplies necessary for grant activities.
c) Audits of the grants.
d) Subcontracts for services that cannot be provided by the staff.
e) Travel expenses for personnel to carry out grant functions.
f) Maintenance and repair of equipment purchased with grant funds.
g) In-service education related to the grant objectives as identified in the approved grant proposal.
Grant funds may not be used for the following:
a) Proposal preparation costs.
b) Daily snack/meals, overnight or out-of-state travel for students.
c) Incentive of cash, clothing, or other incentives provided to students.
d) Field trips purely recreational in nature.
e) Membership and dues to organizations, federations, or societies.
f) Capital improvement, such as facility construction, remodeling, or renovation.
g) Out-of-state travel for staff.
h) Payment of cell phones or cell phone usage.
i) Rent for facility owned by the grantee.
j) Instructional software for students. (Digital curriculum is provided at no charge through the TAOEP Professional Development grant.)
No more than 5 percent of the grant award can be used for administrative costs.
Institutions of Higher Education that receive a state award or federal pass-through award for a grant program administered by the Illinois State Board of Education will be restricted to a maximum indirect rate of 8% or other indirect cost rate calculated by their cognizant federal agency, whichever is less, pursuant to an exception to the Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200) and GATA approved by the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget. Beneficiaries: N/A Administered by the Illinois State Board of Education via the Illinois GATA Catalog of State Financial Assistance (CSFA 586-13-0542).
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
Demographic focus
Details
This grant is for Illinois organizations serving students with attendance problems and dropouts up to age 21. School districts, nonpublic schools, and other Illinois educational institutions are typically eligible.
The program funds truancy prevention, intervention services, and alternative education models. Eligible activities include personnel costs, equipment, materials, professional development, and contracted services.
Applicants cannot use funds for facility construction, out-of-state travel, student incentives, or software purchases. Administrative costs are capped at 5% of the award.
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- GATA Application Form (via Illinois GATA system)
- Project Narrative/Proposal
- Budget and Budget Narrative
- Evidence of organizational capacity
- Assessment/evaluation plan for attendance and graduation outcomes
Program contact
- 👤 Brian Houser
- 📧 bhouser@isbe.net
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Illinois state appropriations. How funding has trended year over year.
| 2018 | $11,500,000 | |
| 2019 | $11,500,000 | |
| 2020 | $11,500,000 | |
| 2021 | $11,500,000 | |
| 2022 | $11,500,000 | |
| 2023 | $11,500,000 | |
| 2024 | $11,500,000 | |
| 2026 | $11,500,000 |
FAQ
Who can apply for this grant?
Illinois school districts, nonpublic schools, and educational institutions serving K-12 students. Contact the Illinois State Board of Education for current eligibility details.
What activities does this grant support?
Truancy prevention, dropout intervention, alternative education programs, and services to increase high school graduation rates.
What costs are allowed in the budget?
Salaries, equipment, materials, professional development, audits, subcontracts, and travel for staff. Administrative costs cannot exceed 5% of the award.
Can we use funds for student incentives or meals?
No. Student incentives (cash, clothing, gifts) and daily meals are prohibited. Out-of-state student travel and purely recreational field trips are not allowed.
Is there a deadline and how much funding is available?
Check the Illinois GATA system or contact ISBE for deadline dates. The total funding pool is $11.5 million, but individual award amounts are not specified.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Focus your proposal on measurable attendance and graduation outcomes tied to evidence-based interventions.
- Budget carefully to keep administrative costs under 5%; allocate most funds to direct services.
- Document how your program reaches both students with attendance issues and their families or guardians.
- Get clear guidance from Illinois State Board of Education on allowable subcontracts and vendor costs before finalizing your budget.
- Align your program activities with state truancy prevention priorities and submit required GATA documentation on time.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Budgets that exceed the 5% administrative cost cap without strong justification. Proposals lacking specific, measurable attendance and graduation rate targets. Inadequate detail on how services will engage both students and parents/guardians in truancy prevention.
Similar grants
- OPEN 27-0343-10 FFY27 Local Agency General Non-Enforcement — Illinois Department of Transportation
- OPEN Special Education 2026-2027 – IDEA B Grants — North Dakota Department of Public Instruction
- OPEN FY 27 Computer Science Incentive Fund – ENDORSEMENTS — Iowa Education
- OPEN John R. Justice Student Loan Repayment Program 2026 (Prosecutors/Public Defenders) — Iowa Governor's Office of Drug Control Policy
- OPEN FY27 RFP FWBPEFS27001 for Iowa Fatherhood Initiative — Iowa Department of Health and Human Services