26/27 In-Class Grant Program Request for Proposal

2026 Request for Proposals - Large School Districts and ESDs

Statewide "In-Class" Bicycle Education Program

Introduction

Cascade Bicycle Club (CBC) 501(c)3 is seeking grant proposals from Large School Districts and Educational Service Districts (ESDs) in Washington state who wish to receive grant funding from CBC to administer the Statewide "In-Class" Bicycle Education Program. This program includes the "Let's Go" bicycle and pedestrian safety PE curriculum (OSPI standards-aligned) and features an elementary curriculum for students in grades 3-5 and a middle school curriculum for students in grades 6-8. Recipients receive equipment, instructional training, and more! 

About Cascade Bicycle Club

CBC is the nation’s largest statewide bicycle nonprofit organization. Our mission is to bring people together to experience the joy of bicycling through transportation, recreation, and friendship. We collaborate with members, volunteers, and community partners to inspire people to advocate for a safe, equitable, and sustainable Washington state. We build confidence, leadership, knowledge, and community by teaching bicycle skills to all ages. For more information, visit our website at cascade.org. 

Background

In 2022, the Washington State Legislature passed a comprehensive, 16-year active transportation package (“Move Ahead Washington” or "MAW") that includes funding for school-based bicycle safety education programs statewide. 

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) contracted with CBC to develop and administer the Statewide Program and distribute grant funding to implementing partners (school districts, Education Service Districts, and community organizations). Since the 2023-2024 pilot year, CBC has partnered with education partners across the state to provide funding and resources for partners to administer and operate the "In-Class" bicycle education program through instruction during PE classes for students in grades 3-5 & 6-8. 

The "Let's Go" program operates within large schools districts/ESDs on an annual rotating school schedule to deliver the PE curriculum unit to students during PE classes. In addition to a fleet of 30+ bicycles (& adaptive bikes!), partners receive instructor training on the "Let's Go" curriculum, ongoing technical support from CBC, and funding for program personnel and ongoing equipment maintenance. 

This partnership is designed to be collaborative, ongoing, and sustainable to meet the Statewide Program's expansion and impact goals. By 2039, CBC seeks to scale and expand the "In-Class" program to reach 90% of eligible students to grow the next generation of cyclists and other active transportation users. This program is the first and largest statewide youth bicycling education initiatives of its kind in the nation. 

Year-Over-Year Program Outputs

2023-2024 Grant Cycle

• 8 partners
• 58 schools
• 8,857 students served

2024-2025 Grant Cycle

• 14 partners
• 160 schools
• 30,538 students served

2025-2026 Grant Cycle (Projected)

• 17 partners
• 300 schools
• 63,000 students served

In-Class Program Goals

Through a collaborative and supportive partnership with the CBC, Large School Districts and ESDs will receive grant funding to administer and operate the bicycle education program in their elementary and middle schools for students in grades 3-5 & 6-8. This multi-week curriculum aims to teach students the fundamentals of bicycle and pedestrian safety, build confidence, inspire the joy of riding, and encourage biking, walking, and rolling to school and beyond.

In addition to the physical fundamentals of helmet safety, balancing, steering, pedaling, and stopping, this program teaches students the rules of safe and courteous riding and the skills to cross streets at intersections. By teaching youth the joys and health benefits of safe biking, we are teaching youth to make active transportation a lifelong passion that helps advance our state's transportation, climate, and public health goals. The impact is long-lasting as students will be equipped with a lifelong skill they will continue to use into adulthood to safely navigate the built environment to pursue post-secondary opportunities, work, community spaces, and beyond. 

Eligible students who successfully complete the "Let's Go" curriculum will have an opportunity to earn a bike, helmet, light, and lock. 

In-Class Target Audience

CBC seeks committed and collaborative Large School Districts and ESDs within Washington to administer the "In-Class" Program and deliver the "Let's Go" curriculum in their elementary and middle schools for students in grades 3-5 & 6-8.

A Large School District is defined as a WA public school district that serves more than 6,000 students enrolled in grades 3-8 (some exceptions may apply).

An Educational Service District (ESD) is one of the nine ESDs throughout Washington. ESDs will serve medium and small school districts, which are defined as public school districts that serve fewer than 6,000 students enrolled in grades 3-8.

Scope of Work

The following are all required of participating Large School Districts and ESD partners:

• Adopt and implement a multi-week PE curriculum unit ("Let's Go") focused on youth bicycle education and pedestrian safety provided by the CBC;
• Identify and recruit 5-10 elementary schools per trailer per year that will implement the program in PE classes;
• Participate in a “train-the-trainer” model wherein CBC provides professional development training to 1-3 identified program "leads" within each large school district/ESD, who will then train all new participating PE teachers; 
• Manage transportation and maintenance of program assets, including a 16-foot trailer, bicycle fleet, and curriculum materials. Maintenance can be done in collaboration with a local bike shop and/or internally within the school district or ESD; 
• Support and participate in the opportunity for eligible youth to earn a bike, helmet, light, and lock. School eligibility based on metrics outlined in the MAW legislation;
• Submit quarterly financial and narrative progress reports to CBC in order to receive reimbursement for program expenditures;
• Identify and/or hire staff to manage the program, including participating in recurring meetings (1-3 hours/month) with CBC staff, communicating with PE teachers, and ensuring program success.
• Engage in CBC's Evaluation Plan to assess progress towards participant learning outcomes. Includes PE teacher post-program surveys, focus groups, student exit tickets, and professional development surveys.
• Host CBC staff for a minimum of one site visit during the grant period;
• Consult with CBC Communications staff before releasing any public communications that pertain to the grant or "Let's Go" program.   

Additional Details

• Funding is available for a single calendar year (July 1, 2026 - June 30, 2027). However, Large School Districts and ESDs will have the opportunity to renew their grant and request additional funding to expand their school reach each year.
• Funding is contingent upon continued legislative investment and biennial state budget allocations;
• First-time applicants are only eligible to for the elementary program for grades 3-5. There are limited opportunities to deliver the Middle School program for returning partners. You may indicate interest in the Middle School program within the application.
• Funds will be disbursed as quarterly reimbursements based on qualified expenses for programming. For this reason, it is necessary that grant recipients have the budgetary capacity to pay for their quarterly program expenses before reimbursement. 

Proposal Requirements

• General information - Organization name, email, address, telephone number, and primary contact name and title. 
• Project Interest (for new applicants) or Project Reflection (for returning partners) - Short answer questions.
• Success Readiness (for new applicants) - Describe why your large school district/ESD is ready to implement at this time.
• Project Reflection (for returning partners) - Reflect on the successes, challenges, lessons learned, and plans for next year.
• School Connections - Identify the number of fleets, schools, and students you aim to serve in 2026-2027.
• Expansion Proposal (for returning partners) - Review expansion guidance and complete and complete an Expansion Readiness Self-Assessment (for internal reflection/guidance only).
• Personnel & Administrative Model - Describe the personnel model that works best for the large school district/ESD. Examples are provided.
• Budget Proposal - Complete the budget template that includes the following categories: Personnel, Maintenance (Labor) & Storage, Supplies & Temporary Services, Travel, Food for Trainings and Meetings, Indirect rate.
• Mission Alignment - This funding is supported by legislation that prioritizes programming for people in Overburdened Communities. Outline how your program implementation model will ensure participation and quality programming opportunities for youth and communities.

Scoring Rubric

As of March 6, the Scoring Rubric is in it's Final Review. It will be posted by March 12.

Proposal Timeline

• Applications open: March 6, 2026
• Application deadline: April 17, 2026
• Award Decision and Notification: mid-May, 2026
• Partnership Agreements sent for review and approval: mid- late May, 2026
• New Partner Kickoff Meeting: June 2026
• *Application support sessions available upon request. Schedule a meeting via this link.

Review Committee

Tina Castillo, In-Class Program Officer

Dylan Gschwind, K-8 Partnership Manager

Stephen Rowley, Education Director

Zavi Veliz, Director of Finance and Operations

Application Questions

Tina Castillo (she/her)

Statewide In-Class Program Officer

tinac@cascadebicycleclub.org 

(206) 558-2789

Schedule a meeting with Tina via this link.