FRIENDZY FUNDING GUIDE
You don’t have to pay for this.
The Friendzy Social Emotional Learning (SEL) program sells itself, and it can pay for itself too. Research supporting SEL as a necessary element of a well-rounded education is overwhelming and influential organizations have taken notice. From the Federal and local Government, to national and local non-profit organizations—Billions of dollars are being allocated towards SEL programs like Friendzy.
Sharing about Friendzy with your community will expand the reach of the culture shifting principles of the Friendzy program, as well as help you in leveraging financial support from community stakeholders invested in improving the school culture and academic success of students.
Visit our Friendzy resource page for a comprehensive free media kit that will help you in getting the word out to your community about the Friendzy SEL Program and the far-reaching benefits of social emotional learning.
The following is an overview of the timeline for applying for and receiving Equitable services as a non-public school. For more detailed information please visit your State Department of Education website, or connect directly with your assigned Local Education Agency (LEA).
New to Federal Education Programs Funding? Take our Free Equitable Services 101 course!
In preparation for the following School Year:
School Report Cards/Performance Reports are made public.
Final Federal grant formula allocations are finalized and sent to LEA’s.
LEA’s connect with all Non-Public schools who have students enrolled that live within their assigned boundaries for Title funding consultation and student support/school wide planning. An equitable share of all District Title Funding is reserved for qualifying non-public schools.
Consolidated District Plans (CDP) are submitted, if applicable, after consultations are complete with relevant stakeholders. CDP’s must be approved and on file before Grant fund applications can be approved.
Needs assessments are conducted.
School-wide Planning is conducted.
School-Wide plans are completed and approved by school-boards.
Upcoming Fiscal Year grant applications are initiated.
All Grant purchases and activities are completed/planned for the current school year (including summer school activities and professional development)
All Federal grants are submitted for approval.
After expenditure reports from the previous fiscal year are finalized, carry over funds from applicable grants are released.
Grant required periodic reporting is engaged.
All federal funding targeted assistance and school-wide programming is initiated.
Criteria to be used for evaluation of the effectiveness of the federal programs (including academic, parental involvement, and professional development) are reviewed.
Academic pre-assessments are conducted.
To help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards by providing additional funding to schools with a high percentage of low-income and at risk students.
All Friendzy program elements fall under allowable uses of section 1114b & 1115a “implementation of a school-wide tiered model to prevent and address problem behavior and early intervention services.”
Friendzy professional development and parent resources fall under allowable uses of section 1115d professional development necessary to assist teachers, specialized instructional support personnel, other staff, and parents in identifying and meeting the comprehensive needs of eligible children.”
To help ensure that migratory children receive a high quality education that includes specialized programs designed to help them overcome barriers to their academic success including cultural and language barriers, social isolation, health related problems, and other factors.
All Friendzy program elements fall under allowable uses of Sec. 1301- “Activities that may be supported include a. Helping these students overcome educational disruption, cultural and language barriers, social isolation, various health-related problems, and other factors that inhibit their ability to succeed in school.”
Part 3: To prevent at-risk youth from dropping out of school, and to provide dropouts, and children and youth returning from correctional facilities or institutions for neglected or delinquent children and youth, with a support system to ensure their continued education.
All Friendzy program elements fall under allowable uses of Sec. 1401, “Purpose and Program Authorization: Purposes include:
a. Preventing at-risk youth from dropping out of school and providing dropouts, as well as children and youth returning from correctional facilities or institutions for neglected or delinquent children and youth, with a support system to ensure their continued education and the involvement of their families and communities.”
To prepare, train, and recruit high-quality teachers and principals with the goal of improving student success.
Friendzy professional development falls under the allowable uses of Section 2101, “Formula Grants to States: State activities include:
a. Professional development activities such as recruiting and retaining teachers and school leaders who are effective in improving student academic achievement.”
Friendzy professional development falls under the allowable uses of Section 2103, “Local Uses of Funds: LEA activities include:
a. Recruitment, hiring, and retention activities for educators including paraprofessionals.
b. Professional development that helps all students develop the skills essential for learning readiness and academic success...
d. In-service training for school personnel in…
iii. Addressing issues related to school conditions for student learning, such as safety, peer interaction, drug and alcohol abuse, and chronic absenteeism.”
To provide all students with a well-rounded and quality education, improve school conditions for student learning, and improve the use of technology in order to improve the academic achievement and digital literacy of all students.
All Friendzy program elements fall under the allowable uses of Section 4101, “ State activities include:
a. Supporting LEAs in offering a well-rounded education and fostering safe, healthy, supportive, and drug-free environments.”
All Friendzy program elements fall under the allowable uses of Section 4107, “Activities to Support Well-Rounded Educational Opportunities. Activities include:
b. Other programs and activities to support student access to and success in a variety of well-rounded education experiences.”
All Friendzy program elements fall under the allowable uses of Section 4108, “Activities to Support Safe and Healthy Students: Activities include:
c. Programs that help prevent bullying and harassment.
d. Programs or activities that improve instructional practices for developing relationship-building skills, such as effective communication, and improve safety through the recognition and prevention of coercion, violence, or abuse.
g. Establishing learning environments and enhancing students’ effective learning skills that are essential for school readiness and academic success, such as by providing integrated systems of student and family supports.
h. Training for school personnel, including specialized instructional support personnel in suicide prevention, trauma-informed practices, crisis management, conflict resolution, and school-based violence prevention.
i. Designing and implementing a locally tailored plan to reduce exclusionary discipline practices.
j. Implementing school-wide positive behavioral interventions and supports.”
To help ensure the educational needs of children with disabilities are served and to equip them with a free and appropriate education, helping them meet the same academic standards that all students are expected to meet.
All Friendzy program elements fall under allowable uses of IDEA-B funds, which may be used to pay for contract services for programs involving students with disabilities. 15% of IDEA 611 B may also be used for “coordinated early intervening services (CEIS), which are services targeted toward high-risk children without disabilities who need additional academic or behavioral support to help them succeed.” CEIS may include “providing educational and behavioral evaluations, services, and supports” Funds can also be used to purchase supplies and materials needed to implement IEPs or administer and operate programs for students with disabilities.
13.5 billion dollars has been allotted through the Elementary and Secondary Schools Emergency Relief Fund (ESSERF) with the purpose of providing immediate assistance for costs associated with the current pandemic crisis.
90% of ESSER funding will be allocated to School districts using the current formula for Title I. The additional 10% will be used at the discretion of the State Education Agency. Visit your state’s Department of Education website for more information on the funds available in your state and district.
*As of June 25th’s Interim Final Rule (IFR), LEA’s may decide if ESSER funds will be allotted on a per student basis, or consistent with Title I proportional allotments. Contact your LEA to see how this new ruling may effect your funding allotment.
More on the Interim Final Rule
Questions? Contact us.
The Friendzy SEL program provides vital social and emotional structure and support to students in the midst of as well as directly following the COVID-19 crisis. Social-Emotional learning also supports and enhances mental health in students, especially at-risk students who have experienced trauma and hardship related to COVID-19.
All ideologically neutral components of the Friendzy SEL program fall under the following allowable uses of the ESSERF.
(1.) Any activity authorized by the ESEA of 1965, including the Native Hawaiian Education Act and the Alaska Native Educational Equity, Support, and Assistance Act (20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.), the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1400 et seq.) (˜˜IDEA), the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (20 U.S.C. 1400 et seq.), the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2301 et seq.) (˜˜the Perkins Act), or subtitle B of title VII of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11431 et seq.).
(3.) Providing principals and other school leaders with the resources necessary to address the needs of their individual schools.
(10.) Providing mental health services and supports.
3 billion dollars has been allocated directly to state Governors through the Governor's Emergency Education Relief (GEER) fund.
GEER is a formula-based relief fund to be dispersed at the discretion of state Governors in efforts to provide emergency support to SEAs, LEAs, and higher education institutions severely impacted by COVID-19. Visit your states Department of Education website to view how your Governor will be using GEER funds.
Visit your state’s Department of Education website and/or contact your LEA for more details on how your state is utilizing their portion of the GEER fund and if the Friendzy SEL program may qualify as an appropriate use of funds.
To provide rural school communities with financial assistance to fund initiatives aimed at improving student academic achievement.
All Friendzy program elements fall under allowable usages of REAP funds. Sec. 5211 states that grantees may use REAP funds to carry out activities authorized under federal programs including Title I-A, Title II-A and Title IV-A.
This grant is available to NEA member teachers, counselors, and education support professionals for a wide range of projects that improve student learning. Amounts are $2,000 and $5,000, and funds can be used throughout the year for resource materials, supplies, equipment, transportation, and technology. Applications are reviewed three times each year. LEARN MORE
The PTA is the oldest and largest child advocacy association in America and their values line up well with those of the Friendzy SEL program. PTA’s have access to PTA specific grants as well as direct access to community members who are dedicated to advocating for your students. Contact your local PTA and schedule a time to share about Friendzy & SEL at an upcoming meeting to see how you can partner together and raise the needed funds for implementing Friendzy.
Local churches and nonprofit organizations operate around a desire to see human flourishing and often have a portion of their finances ear-marked for pouring back into the community. Reach out to the organizations surrounding your school and share about the life-changing benefits of Social and emotional learning in schools and your funding needs.
Many business set-aside funds to sponsor specific school initiatives. Connect with your school administration to discuss specific rules and stipulations regarding sponsorship at your school and your tax-exempt status. Our media kit includes a sponsorship letter template. Additional tips for securing corporate sponsorship.
Adopt a Classroom connects sponsors and donors to public, private and charter classrooms, schools, districts, and subject specific initiatives. Adopt a Classroom is an amazing resource that is not to be looked over for schools and districts seeking additional funding sources for Friendzy. LEARN MORE
Donors Choose is a similar, but more limited, platform to Adopt a Classroom that allows for public school teachers to request funding for specific classroom projects and initiatives from the local and national community . LEARN MORE
Utilizing Social Media is one of the most effective ways to garner community support and awareness for the Friendzy SEL program. Utilize our Free Media Kit and our Friendzy Freebies filled with resources that can help build support and understanding of the life-changing benefits of SEL.
