Best Grants for Preschools in Texas

The Texas Preservation Trust Fund Grant, administered by the Texas Historical Commission, provides matching grants to support the preservation of Texas' historic and archaeological resources. Grants range from $10,000 to $50,000, requiring a 1:1 cash match. The program prioritizes endangered properties and significant archaeological sites, focusing on activities like restoration, preservation planning, and heritage education. This initiative aims to protect Texas' cultural heritage while enhancing community identity and economic development through historic preservation.

The Parent-Directed Special Education Services (PDSES) program, funded by the Texas Education Agency, offers grants of at least $1,500 to families of eligible students. This initiative aims to support families in acquiring essential educational goods and services for students with special needs. Families can apply for these benefits through the Region 10 Education Service Center, ensuring they receive the assistance needed for their children's educational success.

Texas Education Agency 

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) administers federal1 and state grant awards to its subgrantees2 to carry out a program. Such entities include primarily school systems (referred to as local educational agencies [LEAs] in statutes), including independent school districts and charter schools; education service centers (ESCs); and, to a lesser degree, institutions of higher education (IHEs), nonprofit organizations (NPOs), and other statutorily allowable organizations. The following Program Guidelines apply to all eligible subgrantees for the designated grant program.

ESC Texas Instructional Leadership (TIL) Lead Grant

This grant seeks to provide ongoing support and skill building opportunities to ESCs to allow them to grow their internal systems and structures to train, support, and coach ESC TIL coaches.

Texas Education Agency (TEA)

The Texas Education Agency is the state agency that oversees primary and secondary public education. It is headed by the commissioner of education. The Texas Education Agency improves outcomes for all public school students in the state by providing leadership, guidance, and support to school systems.

2026-2028 State Facilities Incentive Technical Assistance Grant

The purpose of the State Facilities Incentive Technical Assistance Grant is to provide high-quality facilities support to Texas charter schools and support State Facilities Incentive Grant (SFIG) grantees. The grant activities include providing technical assistance for charter school leaders on smart decision-making related to facilities and growth. This support aims to increase expertise in facilities planning, financing and operations. Grant activities also include supporting SFIG grantees through monitoring and evaluation to ensure awarded SFIG funds are appropriately stewarded. 

Facilities Training Program

Support under this section of the grant will provide tools and share best practices for smart facility growth. Topics may include state school funding policy, facility budgeting, financing options, compliance, and navigating legal requirements for construction. This support will include a training plan, curriculum, materials, and online modules.

Differentiated Technical Assistance

Support under this section of the grant will provide targeted and support or advice related to facilities funding decisions and planning. Support will be individualized to each subgrantee based on a needs assessment and may include individualized advice and plan development related to topics like facility budgeting, financing options, compliance, and navigating legal requirements for construction.

Subgrantee Monitoring

Support under this section of the grant will provide effective monitoring and evaluation of SFIG grantees. This support will include evaluation against SFIG grant requirements and ensure awarded SFIG funds are appropriately stewarded. 

Texas Education Agency (TEA)

The Texas Education Agency is the state agency that oversees primary and secondary public education. It is headed by the commissioner of education. The Texas Education Agency improves outcomes for all public school students in the state by providing leadership, guidance, and support to school systems.

2026-2028 Local Accountability Plan Grant

The Local Accountability Systems is a district-wide initiative through which districts and open-enrollment charter schools develop a plan to evaluate the performance of their campuses locally. Local Accountability Systems seek to engage the community and district in establishing locally relevant accountability measures, provide parents, families, and communities with detail information about local school performance and progress over time, and continuously improve student performance and preparedness for post-secondary success. 

The Patrick and Beatrice Haggerty Foundation Grant aims to enhance lives through charitable, medical, educational, religious, and literary support. Established in 1983, the Foundation has invested over $19 million in Texas institutions. To be eligible, organizations must be tax-exempt under 501(c)(3). Preference is given to Dallas County programs, while grants are not available to individuals or non-U.S. organizations. The Foundation's mission focuses on serving others and fostering community engagement.

Texas Education Agency (TEA)

The Texas Education Agency is the state agency that oversees primary and secondary public education. It is headed by the commissioner of education. The Texas Education Agency improves outcomes for all public school students in the state by providing leadership, guidance, and support to school systems.

Special Education Family Engagement and Outreach

This initiative is designed to provide programs, resources, and an overall strategy for fostering authentic collaboration among schools, families, and communities in Texas around topics in special education. By establishing strong internal processes with strategic and timely cross-communications, we will increase knowledge and understanding of special education services while improving buy-in and support from all stakeholders. 

Texas Education Agency

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) is the state agency that oversees primary and secondary public education. It is headed by the commissioner of education. The Texas Education Agency improves outcomes for all public school students in the state by providing leadership, guidance, and support to school systems. TEA helps deliver education to more than 5 million students under the leadership of the commissioner of education. The TEA operational costs are supported by both state and federal funds. The Texas Education Agency administers federal and state grant awards to its subgrantees to carry out a program. Such entities include primarily school systems (referred to as local educational agencies [LEAs] in statutes), including independent school districts and charter schools; education service centers (ESCs); and, to a lesser degree, institutions of higher education (IHEs), nonprofit organizations (NPOs), and other statutorily allowable organizations.

2026-2027 T-TESS Pilot Districts Support Grant

The T-TESS Pilot Districts Support Grant was created to support school districts piloting the updated Texas Teacher Evaluation and Support System (T-TESS) by providing support for training and resources for effective implementation. This effort ensures alignment with district and state priorities, strengthens support for teacher growth, and helps the system provide fair and trusted recognition of effective teaching.

The 2026-2027 Rural Pathway Excellence Partnership (R-PEP) Planning and Expansion Grant, overseen by the Texas Education Agency, aims to enhance rural students' access to quality college and career pathways. By fostering multi-district partnerships, this initiative promotes regional collaboration among school systems and workforce entities to design and implement effective educational pathways. The program focuses on successful student transitions beyond high school, ensuring long-term capacity and accountability in education.

The Scanlan Scholars Tuition Assistance Program, established by the Scanlan Foundation, provides financial support for Roman Catholic high school students in Texas, specifically in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. Since 1947, the program has aimed to promote educational access while furthering the Roman Catholic mission. Eligible applicants must be affiliated with the specified diocese, while other Texas dioceses receive automatic consideration without application. The next application period opens on October 1, 2025, with a deadline of November 15, 2025.

The Southwest Border Resource Protection Program (SWBRPP) offers financial assistance to various entities, including the National Park Service, educational institutions, and local agencies. The goal is to enhance resource stewardship and promote international cooperation along the U.S.-Mexico border. This program addresses significant ecological and cultural resource damage caused by illegal activities, supporting scientific research and conservation projects to protect and preserve our shared heritage.

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) offers the Intervention Best Practices (TIER) grant to support school systems, education service centers, and nonprofit organizations in developing evidence-based intervention strategies. This program aims to enhance the capacity of educational institutions to implement a comprehensive framework that integrates differentiated instruction, promoting academic, behavioral, and social success for all students throughout Texas.

Texas Education Agency

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) is the state agency that oversees primary and secondary public education. It is headed by the commissioner of education. The Texas Education Agency improves outcomes for all public school students in the state by providing leadership, guidance, and support to school systems. TEA helps deliver education to more than 5 million students under the leadership of the commissioner of education. The TEA operational costs are supported by both state and federal funds. The Texas Education Agency administers federal and state grant awards to its subgrantees to carry out a program. Such entities include primarily school systems (referred to as local educational agencies [LEAs] in statutes), including independent school districts and charter schools; education service centers (ESCs); and, to a lesser degree, institutions of higher education (IHEs), nonprofit organizations (NPOs), and other statutorily allowable organizations.

ESC Behavior Position Pilot

This program is being created to provide technical assistance to school systems, campuses, and teachers that have special education students experiencing behavioral difficulties that result in dangerous or unsafe learning environments for that student or others. The goal of this program is to ensure that infrastructure is in place to support the students before, during, and after they experience behavioral difficulties as well as provide support for the school system, teachers, and students who may be impacted by the behavior. The program is being established in response to TEC §29.010 (a-1) that states “…the agency may require a school district to obtain specialized technical assistance for a documented noncompliance issue or if data indicates that technical assistance is needed, such as an incident involving injury to staff or students by a student receiving special education services or data indicating an excessive number of restraints are used on students receiving special education services.”

Texas Education Agency

The Texas Education Agency is the state agency that oversees primary and secondary public education. It is headed by the commissioner of education. The Texas Education Agency improves outcomes for all public school students in the state by providing leadership, guidance, and support to school systems.

The Division of Governance Interventions supports TEA’s mission and vision by providing exceptional leadership, guidance, and support to school system leadership teams and governing boards. The division collaborates with external field support agents appointed by the TEA Commissioner of Education to build sustainable systems aligned to core TEA initiatives, so that the school system thrives after the release of agency intervention. 

Effective Advising Framework Planning Grant

Program Description

The Effective Advising Framework (EAF) supports school systems in developing and implementing an individual student planning system as part of a comprehensive school counseling program. The EAF also promotes innovation in career and technical education, including the adoption and expansion of promising programs, particularly those aligned to high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand careers and industries.

The goal of this grant project is to provide interested school systems in each region with EAF coaching support and high-quality resources and tools to strengthen their advising systems and student outcomes. The project aims to identify, train, and designate EAF Coaches at the ESCs who will guide school systems through the EAF planning and implementation process. Finally, the project seeks to ensure that students graduate fully prepared for college, career, or military success, which in turn supports improved CCMR accountability ratings and increased outcome bonuses

Texas Education Agency

The Texas Education Agency is the state agency that oversees primary and secondary public education. It is headed by the commissioner of education. The Texas Education Agency improves outcomes for all public school students in the state by providing leadership, guidance, and support to school systems.

The Division of Governance Interventions supports TEA’s mission and vision by providing exceptional leadership, guidance, and support to school system leadership teams and governing boards. The division collaborates with external field support agents appointed by the TEA Commissioner of Education to build sustainable systems aligned to core TEA initiatives, so that the school system thrives after the release of agency intervention. 

ESC Behavior Position Pilot

Program Description

This program is being created to provide technical assistance to school systems, campuses, and teachers that have special education students experiencing behavioral difficulties that result in dangerous or unsafe learning environments for that student or others. The goal of this program is to ensure that infrastructure is in place to support the students before, during, and after they experience behavioral difficulties as well as provide support for the school system, teachers, and students who may be impacted by the behavior. The program is being established in response to TEC §29.010 (a-1) that states “…the agency may require a school district to obtain specialized technical assistance for a documented noncompliance issue or if data indicates that technical assistance is needed, such as an incident involving injury to staff or students by a student receiving special education services or data indicating an excessive number of restraints are used on students receiving special education services.”

The Texas Education Agency (TEA)

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) administers federal and state grant awards to its subgrantees to carry out a program. Such entities include primarily school systems (referred to as local educational agencies [LEAs] in statutes), including independent school districts and charter schools; education service centers (ESCs); and, to a lesser degree, institutions of higher education (IHEs), nonprofit organizations (NPOs), and other statutorily allowable organizations. 

TSBVI ECC Evaluation

The purpose of this project is to support the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (TSBVI) in developing a set of guidelines for each of the areas of the expanded core curriculum (ECC), as well as developing a valid and reliable assessment tool, based on those guidelines, that professionals in the field can use to make determinations about a student’s skills in each area. After guidelines and the assessment tool are established, TSBVI will develop high-quality aligned instructional materials to support instruction of ECC skills for all students who are blind, deafblind, or have low vision, including those with complex access needs, across grade levels.

Rural Texas high school seniors and college students pursuing four-year engineering or computer science degrees at public Texas universities can receive renewable scholarships totaling up to US $16,000 for tuition, required fees, and books. Focused on higher education, Greater Houston Community Foundation gives preference to applicants from Brenham High School, with multiple recipients selected each year.

Texas undergraduate and graduate students majoring in elementary education can receive $4,000 one-time scholarships for tuition, required fees, and books through the Nancy D. Palm Scholarship. Texas preschools may encourage eligible staff pursuing four-year degrees at in-state colleges or universities to apply via Greater Houston Community Foundation’s scholarship portal.

The Regional Touring Grant Program, funded by the Mid-America Arts Alliance, supports organizations in the M-AAA region to showcase touring artists from outside their state. Grants up to $5,000 are available, with organizations eligible for matching funds and the capacity to submit multiple applications. Projects are designed to enhance arts programming and engage underserved audiences through public-facing events, including performances and outreach activities. This initiative aims to foster cultural exchange and deepen community connections through the arts.

Texas education service centers working on instructional leadership and school improvement can seek funding to expand Texas Instructional Leadership (TIL) training through this statewide mentorship grant. Focused on strengthening education and workforce readiness, Texas Education Agency supports year-long ESC-to-ESC guidance, coaching, and team development with awards totaling US $3,092,328.

The 2025-2026 ESC Title III, Part A Basic Supports program, overseen by the Texas Education Agency, aims to enhance English proficiency and academic success for emergent bilingual students, including immigrant youth. This initiative provides vital technical assistance and professional development to local educational agencies receiving Title III funds, ensuring they effectively support these students in achieving high levels of academic achievement in English. The program is essential for fostering educational equity across Texas.

The Norfolk Southern Corporate Giving: Thriving Communities Grant Program supports initiatives that promote sustainability, workforce development, and community resilience across a 22-state network. With grants ranging from $1,000 to $50,000, the program aims to foster economic development and ensure equal access to basic necessities. Eligible organizations include tax-exempt nonprofits, government entities, and public schools, emphasizing diversity and inclusion in their community-focused efforts.

The Norfolk Southern Corporate Giving: Safety First Grant Program aims to enhance community safety across its 22-state network. With grants ranging from $1,000 to $15,000, it supports organizations that provide safety services or promote safe behavior. This program reflects Norfolk Southern's commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, empowering employees to engage locally. By investing in safety and workforce development, Norfolk Southern fosters thriving communities, demonstrating its dedication to social responsibility and community well-being.

Texas school districts and campuses implementing the Effective Schools or Effective District Frameworks can apply for Texas Education Agency’s Center for Effective Schools grant, with awards of US $1,818,341 to build training, tools, and resources. Funding supports statewide continuous improvement efforts, including logistics and operations for trainings, events, and leadership touchpoints that may benefit early childhood and preschool programs on qualifying campuses.

Texas preschools and other Texas-based organizations hosting disability-related conferences, workshops, or trainings can access funding to support attendees with developmental disabilities and their families. Through the Texas Council on Developmental Disabilities, stipends up to US $7,500 help cover participation and disability-related speakers at in-state educational or advocacy events when no other reimbursement is available.

Texas Council on Developmental Disabilities

TCDD is governed by a 27-member Council that includes people with developmental disabilities (DD), family members, and representatives from state agencies, university centers for excellence in DD, and other organizations. 

TCDD helps people with developmental disabilities (DD) achieve their potential for independence, productivity, and integration into their communities through the development of a comprehensive system of services and supports.

Translation & Interpretation Stipends

Reducing language barriers to access services and supports.

TCDD has funding available to support translation and interpretation services to reduce linguistic barriers among individuals with developmental disabilities (DD) and families to access services and supports in Texas. Funding for these stipends is made available to the TCDD through a grant from the U.S. Administration for Community Living (ACL), Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C.

Stipend Intent

TCDD stipend support is available to organizations or agencies to translate printed materials or provide verbal or American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation services to reduce linguistic barriers and support people with DD and families. Translation may be offered to improve understanding and access to services and support or to inform people with DD and their families about their rights.

These stipends are intended to help reduce linguistic barriers so that all people with disabilities are fully included in their communities and exercise control over their own lives.

Stipend Requirements

The request must demonstrate that:

• the materials and messages translated with these funds are consistent with person-centered and family-centered philosophy;
• the outreach strategies will have the greatest impact to reach and include unserved and underserved populations in Texas; and
• the materials and messages are consistent with the mission, philosophy, goals, and objectives of the Council.

Limitations

TCDD stipends are intended to provide support to individuals and family members who would otherwise be unable to participate. Stipend awards should prioritize Texas residents who have not previously attended the event.

Terms

Multiple applications from an organization may be considered until the maximum allowed funding amount is reached.

Requests for Reimbursement (RARs) and activity reports must be submitted within 30 days after the translation or interpretation is completed. Payments are made based on reimbursement after the event is conducted. Documentation and receipts are required for all expenditures.

2026-2027 Effective Advising Framework Implementation Grant, Year 2-3

The Effective Advising Framework (EAF) supports the development and implementation of an individual student planning system within the context of a comprehensive school counseling program. The EAF also aims to foster innovation and promotion of promising and proven career and technical education (CTE) programs, which may include nontraditional fields. This includes the development, implementation, and adoption of career pathways aligned to high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand careers and industries.

Each school system that successfully completed the requirements of the 2025–2026 EAF Implementation Grant will participate in this grant project to continue implementation of an effective advising system for either Year 2 or 3 of implementation. School systems will reconvene a steering committee to oversee implementation and the continuous improvement of the school system’s individual student planning system.

The steering committee must include representation from both elementary and secondary levels and consist of, at minimum, a certified professional school counselor, an administrator, a representative from Career and Technical Education, and a representative of special populations. The committee will be led by an EAF Project Lead, who must be a certified school counselor or an administrator. The EAF Project Lead will work in close collaboration with an EAF Coach, identified by the Education Service Center (ESC), who will support the district throughout the grant period. The EAF Coach will monitor progress and provide ongoing coaching and support aligned with the Effective Advising Framework.

During this grant period, school systems will continue to implement EAF priorities aligned to the essential actions and key practices of the Effective Advising Framework across grades 5–12. The focus of this phase is to strengthen the quality and consistency of individual student planning, measure its impact when implemented with fidelity, and build sustainable advising systems. School systems will prioritize integrating effective advising practices into staff roles, districtwide data systems, and communication structures to support long‑term implementation.