Cohort 1 deadline is
April 24
NJ Tiered Support Program
for 2026-27
A grant-funded program to help New Jersey K-12 districts develop Tier 2 and Tier 3 materials matched to NJSLS, student needs, and existing curriculum.
supported by
Aligned to every major framework
A lot is changing in New Jersey.
Enter next year with Tier 2 & 3 supports already in place.
Governor Sherrill's FY2027 budget doubles high-impact tutoring funding to $15 million, launches $33 million in SPARK grants for school-based mental health, and sunsets the NJ4S program, moving those resources into the Department of Education.
These are significant investments. But new funding for tutoring and mental health works best when districts already have structured academic and behavioral supports at Tier 2 and Tier 3. Tutors need materials. SPARK covers mental health, but not instructional intervention. And with NJ4S transitioning, districts lose a coordination layer many teams relied on.
This program gives your team the support to build those systems before September.
What districts receive
Qualifying districts get structured, hands-on support to assess current Tier 2 and Tier 3 supports, identify gaps, and build what's needed for 2026-27. This includes academic interventions, behavioral supports, IEP-aligned materials, and mental health resources ahead of SPARK.
Program at a glance
Apply & Interview. Submit a short application, then schedule a 30-minute interview. We'll learn about your goals and how the grant could support them. Decisions are made in 3 business days.
Pre-Service PD Sessions. Facilitator-led professional development during August and September. Instructional teams get resources to create Tier 2 and Tier 3 materials matched to existing curriculum, specific state standards, and student needs.
Classroom Implementation. Materials that can be used with students right away, with ongoing coaching to refine, adjust, and build confidence.
Review & Next Steps. Every material created during the program stays with the district. The program ends with a library of custom intervention resources, ready to scale across classrooms.
Who can apply
District curriculum or instruction leaders
NJTSS coordinators and directors of student services
Assistant superintendents or equivalent roles
SPED directors overseeing intervention programs
Principals leading school-level NJTSS implementation
Cost
If accepted to the program, there is no cost to participate.
Apply by
April 24
— spots are limited for Cohort
Scaling Tier 2 without adding staff
New Jersey districts are being asked to do more with the same teams. The grant provides ready-to-use, evidence-based interventions so your staff can deliver high-quality Tier 2 and Tier 3 supports without burning out or hiring additional positions.
Preparing for SPARK and the NJ4S transition
The state is sunsetting NJ4S and launching SPARK for school-based mental health. Districts that already have strong Tier 2 and Tier 3 structures will be best positioned to access and implement these new services.
Academic foundations for high-impact tutoring
NJ districts will soon be expected to embed structured Tier 2 interventions into the school day. This pilot helps teams build the instructional content and MTSS alignment that tutoring programs need to work.