Act 72 Recovery High Schools Grant Program
Operational Grant Application
Grant Period: July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027
This grant program provides funding for the operation of recovery high schools. A recovery high school is defined as a public, private, or tribal school that operates only high school grades and meets all of the following criteria: (a) the school is specifically designed for pupils in recovery from a substance use disorder or a mental health disorder that coexists with a substance use disorder; and (b) the school awards high school credits that either count towards a high school diploma awarded by the school or will transfer and count towards a high school diploma awarded by a school district.
This legislation provided funding for two different grant programs:
Recovery High Schools Operational Grant Program
Recovery High Schools Planning Grant Program
This application form is specifically for the Recovery High Schools Operational Grant Program. Eligible Applicants
Public, private, and tribal schools, or non-profit organizations operating a recovery high school that meets the following criteria:
- The school is governed by a governing board.
- The school employs an individual who is responsible for the daily operations of the school.
- The school demonstrates that its model is capable of supporting its anticipated enrollment.
- The school is a nonprofit organization, if it is a private school.
- The school provides evidence that it has at least one other source of funding to support its operations.
- The school provides evidence-based programming to pupils, including evidence-based peer-to-peer suicide prevention programming, smaller class sizes, and self-care planning.
- The school requires prospective pupils to apply to the school and conditions eligibility for enrollment on all of the following:
- That the pupil desires to be sober;
- That the pupil commits to attend the school daily;
- That the pupil consents to weekly drug testing;
- That the pupil agrees to a 30-day probationary period and that the pupil’s enrollment may be terminated at the end of the probationary period for any of the following reasons:
- The pupil tests positive for a controlled substance on a drug test administered at the end of the probationary period; or
- The individual responsible for the daily operations of the school determines that the pupil’s enrollment should be terminated based on the pupil’s behavior at the school during the probationary period.
Awards and Budget
Per
2025 Wisconsin Act 15, 20.255 (3) (ef) an additional $250,000 for FY 26 and FY 27 have been allocated to the Act 72 Operational Grants. There is a total amount of $450,000 available to award for the FY 27 grant cycle.
Applicants must submit a proposal and itemized budget in a grant amount up to $200,000. The budget form is included as part of the application.
*Please note: Grant award amounts for the planning and operational grants will vary depending on the number of currently operating recovery schools in Wisconsin and the number of applicants for each grant program.
Application Deadline
Applications must be submitted online by May 1, 2026.