Connect with EDC for Public School Districts’ Opioid Recovery Trust (PSDORT) Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation Support
Public school districts have a new opportunity to fund initiatives supporting students impacted by the opioid crisis.
Applications for phase two of the Public School Districts’ Opioid Recovery Trust (PSDORT) Grant Program are due on November 15, 2026.
The Trust is designed to help public school districts respond to the impact of the opioid epidemic on students and school communities. Districts may apply for any of three grant types: District Improvement Grants, Model Programs and Best Practices Grants, and Innovation Grants. Funding for each grant type is up to $500,000 each over three years. Competitive proposals should show clear need, strong strategy, meaningful partnerships, evaluation, and sustainability.
For districts pursuing PSDORT funding, EDC can help turn the Trust’s priorities into a strong, evidence-informed plan—aligning school-based substance misuse prevention efforts with mental health supports, cross-sector partnerships, implementation readiness, and continuous quality improvement.
Students affected by the opioid epidemic may be navigating trauma, family disruption, loss, stigma, chronic stress, educational interruption, or their own substance misuse-related needs. Effective district responses must connect substance misuse prevention, early identification, mental health support, family engagement, and strong referral pathways. EDC helps districts translate these needs into practical, school-based strategies that are sustainable and aligned with PSDORT priorities, using the Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) framework.
How EDC can help
EDC has helped strengthen the nation’s response to substance misuse for more than 35 years and supported schools, state agencies, community coalitions, and prevention professionals in building effective, sustainable systems.
We bring deep cross-sector expertise in substance misuse prevention and response, school mental health, and evaluation to help districts strengthen prevention, early identification, intervention, referral, and coordinated supports for students affected by substance use disorders at home, their own substance misuse-related needs, trauma, family loss, educational interruption, chronic absenteeism, and related mental and behavioral health needs.
Districts that partner with EDC gain access to experts who can help:
- Strengthen systems for prevention, identification, intervention, and referral
- Support strategic planning and cross-sector collaboration
- Build staff knowledge of trauma-informed student supports and prevention
- Design evaluation that supports continuous improvement throughout the life of the grant and beyond
Some relevant services to support your implementation include:
- Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) for Mental Health
Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) for Mental Health is designed to help school districts develop sustainable, multi-tiered frameworks for substance misuse prevention, early identification, intervention, referral, and coordinated mental health support—especially for students affected by the opioid epidemic and related family or community impacts.
Through expert-led technical assistance, district teams engage in needs assessment, strategic planning, coaching, and professional development to implement sustainable systems-level improvements aligned with a three-tiered MTSS approach.
Districts may focus their MTSS improvement efforts on:
- Substance misuse prevention
- Suicide prevention
- Trauma-informed practices
- Strengthening social and emotional wellbeing
- Universal mental health screening and referral systems
- Family and community engagement
- School climate
- Evaluation Services
EDC’s Evaluation Services help grantees meet PSDORT evaluation and reporting expectations while strengthening implementation, accountability, and continuous improvement.
Support can include:
- Development of evaluation plans
- Performance measures
- Data collection and reporting systems
- Analysis of program outcomes
- Ongoing quality improvement
Support can be provided as an external evaluator or in partnership with an internal evaluation team.
With these services and more, EDC can help districts shape strong, implementation-ready responses to this opportunity by aligning proven supports with the Trust’s priorities for student wellbeing, mental health, community partnership, and evaluation.
Considering applying?
If your district is exploring a PSDORT application, now is the time to begin planning. The Trust encourages districts to submit a Notice of Intent to Apply, although doing so is not required and does not obligate a district to submit a full proposal.
To discuss how EDC can support your planning, proposal development, implementation design, or evaluation approach, reach out to Richard Fournier, Director of Education & Wellbeing, to schedule a 30-minute call or contact us at solutions@edc.org any time!
About EDC
Education Development Center (EDC) is a global nonprofit that works with partners to advance every person’s journey to learn, work, and be well. For over 65 years, EDC has partnered with communities, governments, and the private sector to improve education, workforce development, and health outcomes.
Across the U.S., EDC has helped strengthen prevention and wellbeing systems by building the behavioral health workforce, supporting cross-sector partnerships, informing public policy, and helping schools and communities put evidence-based approaches into practice—reaching more than 75,000 professionals, supporting over 600 schools and communities, and contributing to national prevention policy through more than 300 federal briefings.
Since 2021, EDC’s Education & Wellbeing initiative has also impacted more than 170,000 students and helped districts strengthen systems, practices, and partnerships that support long-term success.