January 14, 2025

How schools fund modern life skills education that fuels student health, happiness, and success

In 2025, equipping students with modern life skills isn’t just a nice-to-have, it’s a must-have for all schools. With A.I. transforming education, for both students and teachers, cell phone bans reshaping school environments, and student mental health concerns at an all-time high, skills like digital literacy, time management, and high-character decision-making are essential in preparing students for success in a rapidly evolving world. 

Unfortunately, 48% of schools cite inadequate funds for student health and wellnessSo, how can school leaders fund programs that create engaged classrooms where teacher-student relationships are strong, students are ready to learn, and there are fewer challenges like digital distractions and A.I. plagiarism? Let’s dive in!

Existing Funding Sources to Support Student Well-Being

Often, schools and districts don’t realize they already have budgets to equip students with future-ready skills, like technology, social media, and student well-being initiatives. These resources can have a positive impact on students, both in and out of the classroom, fostering a supportive classroom environment and student development. The budget simply might live under “Digital Citizenship,” “Wellness,“ or “Counseling.” Or perhaps it lies with a tech director or division leaders. School leaders often have funds for important uses, particularly when the funds can be spent to support the entire school community. 

Possible budgets you can use to bring future-ready skill-building to your school or district:

  • Technology Budget: Since digital literacy is a core focus, part of the existing tech budget could be used to support a program that equips students with the skills to navigate technology, like A.I., and social media challenges responsibly. If the approach includes software, online platforms, or training, it aligns naturally with technology-related expenses.

    • Does #WinAtSocial qualify for a technology budget? Yes! #WinAtSocial Lessons are facilitated through an online, learning platform that is turnkey for teachers and engages 100% of students.

  • Curriculum Budget: Many schools already allocate funds for instructional resources, and a high-quality curriculum that integrates life skills could be categorized under this. By showing that this initiative enhances core instruction (such as improving student engagement and executive functioning), it could justify a portion of the curriculum budget.

    • Does #WinAtSocial qualify for a curriculum budget? Yes! Through a developmentally appropriate lesson scope and sequence, #WinAtSocial can be implemented as a curriculum designed to support student health, happiness, and success.

  • Student Services Budget: Tech and social media directly impact student well-being, making this a viable funding source. Since student services often cover mental health initiatives, conflict resolution, and character education, a program that supports emotional intelligence, resilience, and decision-making skills could qualify for these funds.

    • Does #WinAtSocial qualify for a curriculum budget? #WinAtSocial’s approach to empowering students to navigate social media and tech in healthy ways helps schools address student well-being.

  • Family & Community Resources: Many districts set aside funds for parent engagement and community partnerships. With a program that includes family workshops or resources that support student learning and well-being, a portion of these funds could be tapped. Bonus: Engaging families strengthens the impact of these skills beyond the classroom.

    • Does #WinAtSocial qualify for a family and community resources budget? Yes! When schools partner with The Social Institute, their families also gain access to the Social Toolkit that includes expert breakdowns of the most popular apps students use and family discussion questions that align with #WinAtSocial Lessons so families can continue the conversation at home. 

  • Professional Development (PD) Budget: With tech evolving quicker than ever, teachers need training to implement modern life skills like digital literacy, media literacy, and others effectively. Does the program you’re exploring include PD components? It may be possible to allocate PD funds toward its adoption. Additionally, bundling it with teacher training can increase buy-in and sustainability.

    • Does #WinAtSocial qualify for professional development budget? Yes! Through educator advancement courses and monthly teacher training, faculty can earn CEU credits while the learn how to equip students with modern life skills.

Other ways schools and districts can fund modern life skills education

  • Parent Organizations: Don’t underestimate the role your parent community can play in helping implement activities and programs that will directly benefit students. Aligning with your parent community and letting them provide support for whole-student development builds a stronger school culture.
  • Fundraising: Consider checking in with your development office! By educating your donors about the benefits of certain programs, you can lean on their support to assist in programs and activities that aid in student mental health and well-being. Schools can also fundraise in other areas to free up the budget to use on new expenses.  
  • Endowments: Independent schools often draw a percentage of funds from their unrestricted endowments. There is a strong argument for using these funds in programs that address the whole student, focusing on how just a percentage of these funds can improve student well-being.
  • Rainy Day Funds: Most, if not all, budgets have a certain amount set aside over time for emergencies. And the case can be made that the rainy day has arrived. By allocating a small percentage of these funds to student well-being programs, schools can support students as they navigate current mental health concerns, with 1 in 5 students experiencing mental health concerns in a given year.

As schools find solutions that fit their needs and can effectively address the topics that heavily influence students, including technology, social media, and current events, consider these funding sources to ensure that your school can help students build life skills for the modern-day!

Government Funding

Did you know federal funding accounts for less than 15% of funding for public schools? Instead, most schools receive funding from their state and local governments and other non-federal sources. Let’s take a look at some of the ways you can raise funds for your school to implement modern life skills education.

Children’s Mental Health Initiative 

Learning is much harder when students aren’t healthy. It impacts their academic performance, engagement in the classroom, and overall well-being. Students face many mental health challenges due to societal pressures, trauma, and limited access to proper care. Fortunately, the Children’s Mental Health Initiative (CMHI) is here to make a difference. With up to $39 million invested in various programs available through 2025, CMHI offers crucial support to communities, helping schools and families better address the emotional and behavioral needs of young people. By funding comprehensive mental health services, facilitating partnerships with local organizations, and providing educational resources, the initiative works tirelessly to create a brighter, healthier future for students. Learn more here!

The Stronger Connections Grant 

The Stronger Connections Grant, created under the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, is designed to improve student safety and well-being by providing nearly $1 billion in funding to schools. Available through 2026, the grant aims to help schools create safer, healthier learning environments by addressing students’ mental, emotional, and behavioral health needs. Schools can use these funds for initiatives like mental health services, violence prevention programs, trauma-informed practices, and enhancing school safety infrastructure. The grant allows districts to partner with mental health providers and community organizations to support these efforts. Learn more about Stronger Connections here.

Academic Enrichment Grants

The McCarthey Dressman Education Foundation provides Academic Enrichment Grants aimed at enhancing both in-class and extracurricular educational programs for students. These grants support various educational initiatives beyond regular class instruction, enhancing students’ overall academic experience. 

These grants support proposals that enhance student’s intellectual, artistic, or creative abilities from low-income households. Recipients can receive up to $10,000 per year for a total of $20,000 over two years as long as the eligibility requirements continue to be met. Learn more here!

Title Funding

Billions of dollars in aid are provided annually through the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) to help boost learning opportunities for students, including initiatives that promote school safety and mental health resources. There are several different ways a school can qualify to receive this funding. 

Every student deserves an equal opportunity for academic success, and Title 1 funding supports that. Title 1 funding, part of ESSA, can be used to supplement instruction for schools with students who are at risk of failing to meet state standards. It aims to help students from low-income families achieve the state academic standards. However, it’s not just students that need support, it’s educators, too. 

We’ve heard from educators across the country that they do not feel equipped with the training to support student well-being. Fortunately, along with ESSA, there is Title II funding that focuses on supporting students by providing professional development to teachers, principals, and other school leaders. This, in turn, strengthens and improves the quality and effectiveness of instruction geared toward low-income students.

The need for teaching modern life skills is incredibly important for all schools, with the widespread adoption of online tools, remote learning, and AI. Luckily, ESSA’s Title IV funding provides aid to both public and private schools! This funding is used to implement activities that support a well-rounded education and to improve student digital literacy. 

TSI’s Take

Schools can leverage government funding opportunities to invest in #WinAtSocial, The Social Institute’s positive and proactive approach to equipping students with the modern life skills necessary to succeed in today’s world. As part of their broader efforts to address student well-being and empower students to navigate social media and tech positively, #WinAtSocial has been proven to align with schools’ strategic goals, support their student’s well-being, and can be incorporated into any point of the school day.

These creatively sourced funds from current budgets and federal aid programs assist schools in getting the resources to teach students important modern life skills that will help them navigate their tech-fueled and social media-filled world. Want to learn more about how investing in student well-being positively impacts academic performance? Talk to a team member today!


The Social Institute (TSI) is the leader in empowering students by understanding students. Through #WinAtSocial, our gamified, peer-to-peer learning platform, we equip students, educators, and families to navigate their social world – in the classroom and beyond, online and offline – in healthy, high-character ways. Our unique, student-respected approach empowers and equips, rather than scares and restricts. We incorporate timely topics about social media, tech use, and current events that are impacting student well-being and learning. #WinAtSocial Lessons teach life skills for the modern day, capture student voice, and provide school leaders with actionable insights. Through these insights, students play an essential role in school efforts to support their own health, happiness, and future success as we enable high-impact teaching, meaningful family conversations, and a healthy school culture.