Nathan R. Monell, CAE Executive Director at National PTA | National Parent Teacher Association
National PTA has announced the recipients of $70,000 in grants aimed at supporting family engagement and student well-being in schools across the United States. Fifteen local PTAs have been awarded the 2025-2026 Middle Ground Program Grant, each receiving $3,500. This funding is provided through a partnership with the New York Life Foundation as part of National PTA’s Healthy Minds initiative. In addition, seven council PTAs will receive the 2025-2026 Family Engagement Solutions Challenge Grant, with each recipient receiving $2,500. The Overdeck Family Foundation supports this grant to promote evidence-based family engagement programs nationwide.
The Middle Ground Program Grant is designed to help schools create spaces for grieving students. These spaces are inspired by the New York Life Foundation’s graphic novel "Lost in the Middle" and aim to offer opportunities for storytelling, creative expression, and peer connection. Recipients will also gain access to tools and resources from the Grief-Sensitive Schools Initiative.
The Family Engagement Solutions Challenge Grant involves a train-the-trainer model. Grantees will attend a convening session and then provide training to school district administrators or leaders on evidence-based family engagement programs and Family Engagement Solutions. Participating PTAs will work with their districts to assess how these programs fit into budgets and strategic priorities. Districts that choose to implement one of these programs during the 2025-2026 school year may receive up to $5,000 in match-funding.
“PTAs work hard every day to meet the critical needs of students, families and schools and strong partnerships between families and schools are critical to support our students’ success academically, socially and emotionally,” said Yvonne Johnson, president of National PTA. “The grant recipients will play an important role in helping advance meaningful and effective strategies and programs that will make a real impact for students, families and schools. We are grateful to the New York Life Foundation and Overdeck Family Foundation for making this funding possible.”
The Healthy Minds initiative provides information for families on prioritizing mental health and healthy lifestyles. Family Engagement Solutions is an online tool created by National PTA’s Center for Family Engagement that helps school leaders find programs proven to strengthen family-school partnerships.
National PTA represents millions of members including families, teachers, administrators, business people, and community leaders who support children’s education and promote family involvement in schools. As a registered nonprofit association, it advocates for public education nationwide. Membership is open to anyone interested in supporting children’s education or welfare.
For more information about Healthy Minds visit https://www.pta.org/home/programs/Healthy-Lifestyles/Healthy-Minds or learn about Family Engagement Solutions at https://www.familyengagementsolutions.org/.
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