Title I Grant Information

Schools with 30% or more of the student population qualifying for the Free or Reduced Lunch Program. School groups must be visiting the Gardens as an educator or self-guided field trip; September 14–November 6, 2026. 

• Reimbursement of transportation costs up to 5 buses per date and $500 per school bus.
• Free return admission coupons for students.

Grants are limited. 

Applications must be completed a minimum of three weeks prior to the field trip date.  We recommend applications are completed as soon as possible after receiving your field trip reservation information to secure grant funding.

Applications close Wednesday, October 14, 2026, at 4:00 PM.

• Educator or self-guided field trip order number(s). To request a field trip, visit: Request a Longwood Gardens Field Trip
• Field Trip Date(s), School Name, Teacher Name, Teacher Email Address
• Title I documentation letter in the specified format. 

The Title I Documentation Letter format is listed below. Any other format of Title I documentation will result in the application being denied. 

• Dated within 90 days of the application date
• Written on school letterhead
• State the current percentage of students in the school that qualify for free or reduced lunch
• Signed by the principal or other school administrator

Letter may be uploaded to the application as a rtf, pdf, doc, or docx. 

Receipt of the grant application will be confirmed automatically by email. 
Regardless of the status of the application, you will receive an email update within three business days from schoolandyouth@longwoodgardens.org

To ensure you receive all email communications add schoolandyouth@longwoodgardens.org to your Safe Senders list and check spam or junk folders for misdirected emails. 

Submitting an application does not confirm automatic approval. Applications may be denied if:  

• The Title 1 documentation letter was not submitted in the correct format.
• The school does not meet the minimum percentage of 30% of the student population qualifying for the Free or Reduced Lunch Program.
• A field trip date has not been reserved for the group.
• Transportation reimbursement funds are no longer available.  

• Transportation reimbursement is issued by check after the field trip.
• Final bus invoices are due 60 days after the field trip date.
• Reimbursement amount will be issued for the actual expense provided on the final invoice, up to $500 per bus and a maximum of five buses per visit date.
• Transportation reimbursement checks can be issued to the school or school district.  Checks cannot be issued to bus companies, third parties, or individuals.
• Transportation reimbursement is limited to “yellow” school buses.
• Longwood Gardens does not provide funds for deposits due before or payments due on the date of the field trip.
• We do not provide buses for schools. Schools are responsible for the group’s own transposition arrangements.
• Additional staffing costs associated with visiting the Gardens, including student support or medical staff, are not eligible for reimbursement through the Grant. 

Additional information about how to submit an invoice for reimbursement will be furnished to applicants when the grant is approved. 

• Free Admission Coupons will be mailed to the school after the field trip. Allow up to 30 days to receive.
• The number of coupons mailed will be equivalent to the student count provided when checking in the group on the date of the field trip.

• Coupons are valid through August 30, 2027.
• Coupons are redeemable for up to five (5) free general admission tickets.
• Student (age 4-18) must be present at time of redemption
• Bring the coupon to any ticketing window at Longwood Gardens.
• Timed reservations are not required for guests entering with the Free Admission coupon.
• Timed reservations are required for any guests in the party that exceed five (5) people.
• Original coupon must be present. Duplicates are not accepted.
• Coupons are not valid for specially ticketed events & have no cash value.

Can I do anything to prepare to apply for the grant before field trip requests open? 
Yes! We recommend preparing the Title I documentation letter before applications open. Title I documentation letter is required to be submitted in the specified format listed below. All other types of documentation will result in the application being denied.

• Written on school letterhead
• Signed by the principal or other school administrator
• Dated within 90 days of application date
• State the current percentage of students in the school that qualify for free or reduced lunch.