California Serves Grant Program

NOTE: The application due date for this program has passed.

Funding Description

The California Serves Grant Program will promote access to service learning for grade twelve pupils who are enrolled at participating and eligible local educational agencies (LEAs), with the goal of expanding access for graduates in obtaining a State Seal of Civic Engagement (SSCE) through service learning. The program will award participating LEAs with grants of up to $500,000 to use for several purposes, including planning time, professional development, instructional materials, participation costs, and personnel costs.

Eligibility

Eligible Applicants	Local educational agencies
Required Eligibility Criteria	Applicants must be LEAs that serve pupils in grade twelve; offer the SSCE to students locally; and in which at least 55 percent of the pupils enrolled in the applicant LEA shall be unduplicated pupils as defined in California Education Code Section 2574 or 42238.02, as applicable.
Other Eligibility Considerations	The CDE shall give positive consideration to applicants with high quality service learning programs that also directly support the statewide SSCE criteria.
Eligible Grade Level(s)	12
Eligible Age Level(s)	Not applicable

Funding

Legal Authority	The 2022 Education Omnibus Budget Trailer Bill authorizes this program (Assembly Bill 181, Section 71, Statutes of 2022).
Source / Type	State / Grant
State Fiscal Year	2023-24
SACS Resource / Revenue Codes	7810 / 8590
Total Available	$5,000,000
Recipient Amount	$500,000
Match Requirement	No
Allocation Formula	The CDE shall issue grants of up to $500,000 to eligible LEAs that apply and are evaluated through a rubric provided in a Request for Applications.

Important Dates

Date Application Available	January 22, 2024
Due Date	March 11, 2024
Expected Notification Date	April 29, 2024

Additional Information

Application	California Serves Grant RFA [http://www.cde.ca.gov/fg/fo/r12/caserves24rfa.asp]
Background	California Serves [http://www.cde.ca.gov/ci/pl/californiaserves.asp]
Fiscal	Unavailable
Funding Results	California Serves 2023-24 Funding Results [http://www.cde.ca.gov/fg/fo/r12/caserves24results.asp]
Other	Unavailable

Contacts

Program	Sarah Smith, SSCE@cde.ca.gov
Fiscal	Delaina Henson, SSCE@cde.ca.gov
Division	Educator Excellence & Equity Division, 916-323-4630

Last Modified: April 16, 2026