Madison Reporter

The Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) has received a two-year grant from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) to expand its alcohol and drug abuse prevention programs. The grant provides $50,000 for the 2025–26 school year and an additional $50,000 for 2026–27.

This funding is part of DPI’s Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse (AODA) program. MMSD will use the funds to hire a limited-term employee who will deliver targeted prevention and intervention services throughout district schools. The grant also supports educational programming aimed at helping students make healthy decisions and address underlying risk factors related to substance use.

“AODA prevention education helps students understand not just the risks, but how to make informed, healthy decisions,” said Leia Esser, MMSD’s executive director of student and staff supports. “This grant enables us to reach more students, earlier, with support that’s rooted in care, not punishment.”

The DPI AODA program is designed to assist school districts in addressing substance use through education, early intervention, and family engagement. MMSD emphasizes equity and trauma-informed practices in its approach.

“This work is about prevention, connection and support,” Esser added. “By embedding these lessons into the school day and providing dedicated staff, we’re giving students the tools they need to navigate real-life challenges, not only now but in the future as well.”

Additionally, MMSD was awarded $9,500 through DPI’s School-Based Mental Health Professionals grant. Since 2021, this funding has supported recruitment and professional development for counselors, social workers, and psychologists within the district. In total, MMSD has received $114,500 from this grant cycle to maintain efforts toward building a diverse team focused on student support.