School Tobacco Use Prevention (TUPE) Mini-grants focus on utilizing Restorative Discipline Practices and cessation practices for nicotine use offenses in schools and districts.

The 2026-2027 school year's School TUPE  mini-grant funding applications will open at 5AM on Monday, March 23rd, 2026 and close at midnight on April 24th, 2026. 

The tentative and subject to change dates are: 

  • Applications Open 5AM Monday March 23rd, 2026 
  • Applications Close midnight April 24th, 2026 
  • Successful applicants will be notified near May 29th, 2026 
  • Funds will be ETF transferred in June or July 2026 
  • Funds must be obligated by June 30, 2027 
  • Midyear report, submitted online*, is due Friday, Jan 22nd , 2027 
  • Final report , submitted online*, is due June 11th, 2027 
  • The Final budget expenditure report* is due July 1, 2027

*Links used to report will be in your notice of award letter.

The application link will open Monday March 23rd, 2026. Funds are available!

 

Dates for the 25-26 school year TUPE grants - 2025-2026 grant application period ended on Friday April 18, 2025 at 11:59 pm. 

The 2025-2026 recipients are required to submit a mid-year report by January 23, 2026, a final narrative report is due by June 19, 2026 and final budget expenditure report by July 11, 2026.

Reporting links are located in your notice of award email.

Additional TUPE Mini-Grant Information:

The Montana Tobacco Use Prevention Program (MTUPP) provides funds to the OPI to provide grants to Montana schools for implementing strategies to reduce youth tobacco use.  Grant recipients may be awarded up to $10,000 per school or up to $20,000 per school district to support student tobacco use prevention strategies. The purpose for establishing a district threshold is to accommodate larger districts who have more than one school to address with this grant funding. 

Vape Detectors/Sensors: Purchasing Vape Detectors is not an allowable expenditure with these grant funds. We're currently gathering data from schools and other sources utilizing sensors/detectors to better understanding their efficacy.  If your district has installed vape detectors and you haven't previously responded, please respond to these questions.   

To receive these funds you or another administrator must affirm your school/district will not utilize out of school suspension for a primary tobacco/vaping related student offense. This authorization is within the application.

To receive these funds you or another administrator must authorize OPI TUPE to privately access your YRBS data. This authorization is within the application.

Grant recipients are required to submit a midyear report by mid January, 22, 2027, a final  narrative report June 11, 2027, and a budget expenditure report by July 1st 2027.  Links to these documents will provided in award letters. Longer narratives may be copied and pasted into the form using the cut and paste feature from your original document. 

Successful applicants will be notified approximately two months following the close of applications. All grant funds must be obligated by June 30th, 2027. 

Completed applications will be scored according to: 

  • Your narrative and budget must be detailed and complete. 
  • School/District Need - Based on your 2021, 2023, and 2025 YRBS data, student discipline referrals around tobacco use data, and complete application narratives.
  • Inclusion of Restorative Discipline Practices. These links may be helpful: Addressing Tobacco Use in Montana Schools with Restorative Practices and Restorative Practice Resources. 
  • Prospect of Success - Based on well thought out procedures and ease of implementation. 
  • Sustainability - District intent to continue and/or adapt to improve their tobacco use prevention program. 
  • Implementing Alternatives to Suspension - Out of School Suspension may not be utilized for a primary tobacco/vaping related disciplinary action.

  • Budget Proposal - A thorough description of how funds will be allocated. 

The grant applications tend to be very competitive. We recommend applicants submit complete and thorough responses.

Potential Prevention Strategies for which to use grant funds

This is certainly not an exclusive list.

Click here for links to more resources

Educational Programs: 

INDEPTH - a facilitated course from the American Lung Association   

Healthy Futures - an online course from the Stanford Tobacco Prevention Toolkit 

Vaping : Know the Truth - an online course from the Truth Initiative 

Student Problem Solving/Support Groups/Agreements Peer Mentoring School/Community Service Project(s)

Cessation Resource Referrals: 

My Life, My Quit, This is Quitting and Not On Tobacco are examples Quit Clubs 

Tier I/Schoolwide Prevention Strategies Health Curriculum 

Supplemental Support  Poster/Composition Contests relative to Tobacco Use Prevention, Student Centered  Media Campaign(s), Youth Prevention Groups/Clubs like ReACT, Guest Speakers/Presenters   

If funding is available the next round of grant applications will open in March 2027. All applications must be submitted using the link on this webpage. Longer narratives may be copied and pasted into the form using the cut and paste feature from your original document.  

For inquiries about the application process contact Beth Dominicis, Beth.Dominicis@mt.gov 

Tobacco Use Prevention Home