A purpose and allowable use of T4PA funds is to foster safe, healthy, and drug-free environments that support student achievement. T4PA intends to provide funds for student physical and mental health that promote a safe learning environment rather than focusing on hardening school facilities for security purposes.
Foster safe, healthy, and drug-free environments that support student achievement. Promote the involvement of parents. Provide drug and violence prevention activities, including educator professional development and student mental health activities. The intent and purpose of T4PA is to provide funds for student physical and mental health rather than just focusing on facility security.
Integrate health and safety practices into school/athletic programs
Support a healthy and active lifestyle
Prevent bullying and harassment
Reduce exclusionary discipline practices
Mental health activities
Drug and violence prevention
Counseling services
Trauma-informed classroom management
Chronic disease management
Mentoring to include at-risk students, drug use, and abuse
Substance use and abuse recovery and support services
Establish or improve school dropout and reentry programs
Community/parent engagement and learning opportunities to teach and support integrated student mental health, wellbeing, and academic success
Telemedicine and tele-mental health therapy and services
Provide students in rural, remote, and underserved areas with the resources to take advantage of high-quality digital learning experiences, resources, and access to online courses and services
Schoolwide positive behavioral interventions and supports
Many of the program ideas are all or partly state-mandated. To progress with using T4PA funds, an LEA must:
Document how they met the state requirement with state or local funds before incurring the expense.
Use T4PA funds to supplement the requirement by expanding, adding to, or enhancing the original mandate.
More information on SNS on the Grant Basics page.
Many questions have been raised about the use of Title IV, Part A funds for security purposes. Since 2022, TEA has released state safety standards and state safety grants. LEAs need to be cautious about using T4PA funds for any state safety mandates. For more information concerning safety standards and state safety grants, see the State Requirements links. If the LEA has previously purchased these items with State or local funds (includes state safety grants listed below) in the past, the LEA must maintain documentation to rebut the presumption of supplant. [Also, please note that the purchase of firearms and ammunition and training in the use of such items are not allowable per Section 8526 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) as amended by the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, Section 2938, Division A-Mental Health and Firearms Provisions, Title III-Other Matters, Subtitle D-Amendment on ESEA Funding, Section 13401]