School Counselor Corps Grant Program (SCCGP) Funding Opportunity

Introduction and Purpose:

This Request for Applications (RFA) distributes funds to eligible education providers pursuant to the requirements of the SCCGP, C.R.S. 22-91-101 through 22-91-105. The purpose of SCCGP is to increase the availability and implementation of effective school-based counseling to increase the state graduation rate and increase the percentage of students who appropriately prepare for, apply to, and continue into postsecondary education.

Eligible Applicants:

Local Education Providers (LEP’s) are eligible to apply for this opportunity to increase the number of school counselors for secondary and elementary students and the level of school counseling services provided. Elementary applicants must apply with the middle or high school for which they are a feeder school. The secondary school(s) must be included as part of this grant application or be a current SCCGP grantee.

LEP’s are eligible to apply for this opportunity. An eligible LEP is:

• A School District;
• A Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES);
• A Charter School authorized by a School District; or
• A Charter School authorized by the Charter School Institute.

Available Funds and Duration of the Grant:

SCCGP is a four-year cohort grant cycle.

• Year one: awards range between $30,000 and $50,000 per application.

  • The first year of the grant is developmental year and will focus on data collection, needs analysis, program development, and direct services.

• Years two through four: successful grantees may request up to $90,000 per funded school.  

  •  Funding is for implementation and increasing the level of school counseling services.

Funding is contingent upon enacting pending appropriations to the SCCGP for 2024-2025 school year. There is a limit to how many sites are funded per application based on state allocations.

Allowable Use of Funds: 

Funds may be used to supplement and not supplant or replace any monies currently being used to provide school counseling positions or activities.

Allowable activities include:

• Licensed school counselor salaries and benefits for site-base, districtwide, or BOCES-wide positions.
  • Grant Year One: School counselor salaries and benefits are an optional use of funds to support grant work in year one only.
  • Grant Years Two-Four: 1.0 School counselor FTE salaries and benefits are required per funded site.
• Grant related travel to in-person required training and professional development.
• Career awareness and postsecondary preparatory services.
• Professional development.
• Events, supplies, and technology related to comprehensive school counseling program development and implementation; and school counseling program development and implementation.
• Consulting services.

Funds may not be used for the following (including, but not limited to):

• Capital equipment.
• Building improvements, construction, or maintenance.
• Indirect costs, or incentives for students and or staff.
• FTE related to non-school counseling positions (i.e., school psychologists, social workers, clinical counselors).

Priority Considerations:

Contact:

If you have questions regarding the application, please email CompetitiveGrants@cde.state.co.us.