Funding Application
ATTENDANCE INITIATIVE FUND
2026-27 Project Funding Application
The Attendance Initiative Fund supports school and community-led projects that promote student attendance and engagement in Yukon. Each year, funding is made available to all Yukon schools through Every Student, Every Day, the Government of Yukon, and other private sector and community partners.
Who Can Apply?
The following individuals or groups are eligible to apply for funding:
- Schools, teachers, School Councils, and School Boards
- Yukon First Nations governments or organizations
- Community organizations and student/parent clubs
Available Funding
For the 2026–27 school year, $300,000 will be distributed among successful applicants. Schools and organizations may apply for funding for one or more projects, up to a maximum of $25,000. Partial funding may be awarded depending on the number of applications received.
If applying for more than one distinct initiative, applications must be submitted together and ranked in order of priority.
Eight broad categories for proposals include, but are not limited to:
- Focusing on attendance issues – projects in partnership with the local community, or with families and caregivers, to address barriers to daily school attendance and encourage student engagement.
- Small kitchen infrastructure – projects that will improve schools’ access to kitchen equipment and small appliances, allowing them to more effectively feed students.
- Acting to improve attendance – materials and equipment designed to improve attendance rates (items that are not provided by Yukon Education).
- Monitoring and adjusting current attendance initiatives – tools and/or research to improve current attendance initiatives.
- Creating communication projects or products – schools and students sharing information about attendance issues.
- First Nations Reconciliation and Engagement – Projects that incorporate First Nations ways of knowing, doing, and being to promote attendance and engagement, addressing the Calls to Action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada.
- Science, Technology, Trades, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STTEAM) – working with students to apply their learning in real-life situations as a means to improve attendance and engagement.
- Mental Health and Wellness Initiatives – Activities that strengthen mental health and wellness, fostering a positive environment where students feel supported, safe, and motivated to attend school.
Evidence suggests that projects have the greatest impact when they:
- are community based;
- are focused on student engagement;
- help build stronger relationships; and
- are evidence-based and linked to outcomes.
Notes regarding proposals for the purchase of information and communications technology (ICT) equipment or services for schools:
- Property Management should be consulted before you submit your application, to ensure building infrastructure and code requirements are considered in the installation scope of work.
- The director of IT Support Services (ITSS) or the director of Technology and Student Information (TSI) must be consulted before you submit your application, to ensure ICT and ICT infrastructure authorization requirements will be met.
- ICT is defined as and includes any network enabled device such as servers, computers, tablets, video conferencing equipment, networked printers, Apple TVs or equivalent. ICT also includes any third-party intranet, extranet and/or internet-based tools, systems and/or services.
- All technology purchases must be done through Yukon Education. ITSS and TSI provide approval and instruct you on how to procure and/or will provide procurement for you.
Please note that the following types of projects are not supported by this fund:
- Cash awards for attendance or rewards-based programs for best attendance (distinct from most improved attendance).
- Projects that create a job position and involve paying an employee.
- Projects that are not allowed under Yukon Education policies or Government of Yukon legislation.
- Requests primarily for general school improvements or promotional/spirit items that do not demonstrate a direct, measurable link to improved attendance.
- Projects that need multi-year funding or that repeat for more than two years.
- Large capital purchases, infrastructure, or items/programs with ongoing operation and maintenance costs. These funds are for one-time projects and are not intended to support projects with ongoing or annual program/operating costs.
How to Apply
- Complete the 2026–27 Attendance Initiative Fund Application.
- Submit the completed application by 4:30 p.m. on Friday, March 27, 20256 via email to: ESEDpartnership@yukon.ca