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  • Contact Us

    Texas School Health Program
    PO Box 149347, MC 1945
    Austin, TX 78714-9347
    1100 West 49th Street
    Austin, Texas 78756

    Phone: 512-776-7279
    Fax: 512-776-7555


    Email comments or questions to SchoolHealth@dshs.texas.gov

Grants and Awards Program

The School Health Program awards funds to Texas schools and school districts for projects that improve or promote health. The projects should engage students, their families and the community. DSHS award programs have funded more than 100 projects in the last 30 years.  

School Health Grant: Reaching for Excellence (RFE) in Texas  

Research shows that healthy eating and physical activity contribute to academic achievement. Students who follow these healthy behaviors generally have lower absenteeism rates, higher grades, and better cognitive performance.   Reaching for Excellence grant flyer. [Click image to download and print PDF flyer.]

The Reaching for Excellence in Texas school health grant will fund new projects that focus on nutrition education, physical activity or injury prevention. Texas schools and school districts can apply for the RFE grants. Eligible projects should engage students, their families and the community. They also should include plans to continue the project past the initial year.

Grant Funds

Two grants of up to $10,000 will be awarded. Funds will be released in the form of reimbursements to award recipients.

Application Information

Application Deadline: November 12, 2021

Project Timeline: September 1, 2022 – August 31, 2023

Project Requirements

  • Is in the planning stage and not yet started or has been operating less than a full school year with no completed results.
  • Strives to improve the well-being of students and community.
  • Focuses on nutrition education, physical activity, or injury prevention.
  • Aligns with your school district’s local wellness policy in addition to CDC’s Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) model components.

Grant Requirements

Selected awardees must:

  • Provide evidence that their district’s school health advisory council (SHAC) supports the new program or initiative.
  • Have a designated contact person for the duration of the grant.
  • Comply with receipt retention, submission, and reporting requirements.
  • Attend monthly meetings with DSHS staff for the duration of the grant.
  • Provide a process evaluation and an outcomes evaluation.

RFE Grant Webinar

DSHS School Health Program staff conducted a webinar three times in September. View the presentations slides. [pdf] Handouts provided during the webinar included the application checklist, sample application and grant flyer as listed above.

Frequently Asked Questions 

We have answered several frequently asked questions. 
If you have other questions, please email schoolhealthawards@dshs.texas.gov or call 512-776-7279.  

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Last updated October 1, 2021