Mesquite ISD: federal grants topped $29 million in fiscal 2025, district says

Mesquite Independent School District staff told the board that grant funding supported more than $30 million in district activity during fiscal 2025, with federal grants comprising the largest share, district staff reported.

Miss Chappell, presenting an effectiveness report for the district's federal and state grants, said federal grant funds totaled approximately $29 million and that Title I and IDEA-B accounted for roughly 80% of federal grants. State grants were reported at about $1 million and local grants at roughly $417,000; local grants included support from the Mesquite Education Foundation.

Chappell described three grant categories: formula grants (allocated based on student data), discretionary competitive grants (awarded via applications) and stimulus grants (one-time federal emergency funds such as ESSER and ARP, which have largely phased out). She said grants supported staffing (about 57% of grant funds), including roughly 350 federally funded positions, transportation for homeless students, counseling services, dyslexia instructional materials and district initiatives like the back-to-school fair.

The presentation noted that the district has begun requesting indirect cost recovery from federal grants and that stimulus funding peaked in fiscal 2023 and has since been phased out. Chappell also flagged potential federal-level changes under discussion that could alter program administration or timing of allocations; she said the district is monitoring those developments and planning for potential cash-flow timing issues.

Board members asked questions and thanked staff for the report. Chappell identified members of the grants team and the strategic funding lead who support grant research, application and compliance functions.