Catholic School Grants

Strengthening Catholic Schools. Supporting Teachers. Embracing All Learners.

EMBRACE partners with Catholic schools throughout the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas to provide the resources, personnel and professional development needed to support students with disabilities and learning differences.

What do EMBRACE grants support?

Grants help schools strengthen the services they provide now while building the capacity to welcome more students with diverse learning needs. Schools may apply in four areas.

Specialized personnel

Certified professionals who provide direct services or specialized support, such as:

Special education teachers
Speech and language pathologists
Occupational and physical therapists
Reading and math interventionists
Gifted education instructors
Social skills coaches
Instructional coaches and school counselors

Paraprofessionals

Additional classroom support for students with disabilities and learning differences. Paraprofessionals must receive appropriate training and work with certified teachers to support instruction, student independence and inclusion.

Curriculum and materials

Evidence-based curriculum, instructional materials and resources that accommodate or modify instruction to meet students’ diverse learning needs.

Professional development

Funding for ongoing, evidence-based training that equips teachers and staff to support all learners, embedded in the school’s culture. Examples include Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and Differentiated Instruction.

Built for sustainable programs

Strong special education programs take time to build. Three-year personnel grants step down each year, so schools gradually take on more of the cost as they develop and sustain their programs.

One- and two-year grants are also available.

100%

Year 1

66%

Year 2

33%

Year 3

Share of the approved personnel cost EMBRACE covers

What a strong application shows

We look for schools committed to improving services for current students while planning to welcome more learners.

A clear plan
How the funding will improve services and meet students’ needs.

A commitment to inclusion
A desire to make positive changes and open doors to more students.

Measurable goals
How you’ll track progress, evaluate interventions and find areas to improve.

Collaboration
A willingness to share knowledge, mentor and work with other Archdiocesan schools.

Eligibility and school commitments

Schools must be members of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas. Grant recipients agree to:

Promote and participate in EMBRACE Day each year
Share EMBRACE communications with school families and parishioners
Promote EMBRACE events and fundraisers in school newsletters and social media
Support and participate in EMBRACE fundraising efforts
Complete an annual progress report on how grant funds improved services and student progress

How to apply

Grant Intent to Apply

Due December 18, 2026

Submit the electronic Intent to Apply Form with your school and project information. EMBRACE reviews eligibility and determine whether collaboration between schools with similar needs may be beneficial.

Full Grant Application

Due January 22, 2027

Eligible schools receive the application and scoring rubric. It includes a project narrative covering current needs, proposed use of funds, measurable goals and your plan for evaluating progress, approved by a school administrator.

Review & award decisions

Notified by March 5, 2027

The EMBRACE Board scores each application using the rubric, written feedback and discussion, with possible input from the Archdiocese. The Board may request more information or a school visit. Final grant award decisions are based on the merit of each application, eligibility requirements, and available funding.

in Grants since 2018

$ 0 M

Catholic Schools Funded

Requested by schools
last cycle

$ 0 M

A grant at work

Therapy at school, not across town

An EMBRACE grant helped Nativity Parish School hire Angie Harmon, a licensed occupational therapist, to work with students from pre-K through eighth grade. Students who once traveled to a public school for services now get them in their own building, alongside their classmates.

“Some students may have had to travel to public schools to get those services. But I’ve been able to see the children directly at the school, which has benefited them tremendously and being able to work with the teachers has been a huge benefit as well.”

Angie Harmon
Occupational Therapist, Nativity Parish School

EMBRACE has been transformative, because it's allowed us to bring in the resources we need. We hired a learning resource director. In 45 years of education, this partnership with EMBRACE has been my greatest joy.

Maureen Engen

Principal, Bishop Miege High School

More Voices

"EMBRACE has played a key role in our school. They have helped us provide teachers the knowledge and information they needed so that we can meet the needs of all of our students."

"EMBRACE has given these kids the ability to be integrated with their peers, like all the other kids should be allowed to do, and they get all the support that they need."

"Without the support of EMBRACE, then as a principal when I'm really telling our families, 'We're here for you,' then ultimately we wouldn't be. But because we have the resources from EMBRACE and the community, then I'm able to say: what does your child really need...and how can we best help and serve them?"

Help a school say yes

Sometimes a Catholic school has to tell a family no, not because it doesn’t want the child, but because it doesn’t have the specialist or resources that child needs. Archdiocesan Superintendent Erin Vader calls those moments heartbreaking.