MDE Awards $836K in Cardiac Emergency Response Plan Grants
Investments Increase Access to Equipment, Cardiac Emergency Response, and Preparedness Planning in Schools
MINNEAPOLIS – Today, the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) announced the award of 31 Cardiac Emergency Response Plan (CERP) Assistance Grants to districts, schools, and educational cooperatives across Minnesota. The grants, totaling $836,000, will support emergency response and preparedness planning in schools.
The investments will help schools implement their written and practiced cardiac emergency response plans beginning in the 2026-27 school year with ongoing support, training, and technical assistance from MDE.
MDE is also partnering with Children’s Minnesota’s Project ADAM initiative to offer grantees regional training including sessions on developing, implementing, and evaluating a cardiac emergency response plan. Through a hands-on train-the-trainer session to ensure ongoing district training in recognizing and responding to sudden cardiac arrest using hands-only CPR and AED use.
"These investments strengthen the safety and well-being of our schools, especially in a cardiac medical emergency when every second counts," said Commissioner Willie Jett. "Through our partnership with Children's Minnesota, we are providing schools with the knowledge to recognize signs of cardiac distress and building the capacity and confidence to respond effectively."
"Project ADAM Minnesota is committed to helping schools be prepared to recognize and respond to a cardiac emergency, because every second counts. We are grateful to collaborate with the Minnesota Department of Education on this important initiative," said Andrew Schneider, MD, pediatric cardiologist at Children’s Minnesota and director of Project ADAM Minnesota and Terasa Smith, RCIS, BHA, cardiovascular technologist at Children’s Minnesota and coordinator of Project ADAM Minnesota. "Together, we will equip all levels of school staff across the state – including teachers, administrators and support personnel – with life-saving training and a practiced Cardiac Emergency Response Plan. This partnership brings us another step closer to preventing sudden cardiac death in Minnesota schools and ensuring that every child has the safest possible environment to learn, grow and thrive."
Gov. Tim Walz and the Minnesota Legislature created the (CERP) grants in the 2025 legislative session to assist schools in implementing cardiac preparedness plans, which are set to begin in the upcoming school year. MDE received strong interest in the grant and selected applicants based on demonstrated need for equipment and preparedness training.
Grantees include:
- Annandale Public School District
- Augsburg Fairview Academy
- Burnsville Public Schools
- Chisholm Public Schools
- Cook County Schools
- Cromwell Wright School
- Henning Public Schools
- Jackson County Central School District
- Jennings Community Schools
- Lake Superior School District
- Lakeville Area Schools
- Laura Jeffrey Academy
- Le Sueur-Henderson Public School District
- Long Prairie-Grey Eagle
- Mankato Public Schools
- Metro Deaf School
- Nevis Public School
- New Century School
- Parkers Prairie District
- Prairie Creek Community School
- Princeton Public Schools
- Prior Lake Savage Area Schools
- Roseville Schools
- Sleepy Eye Public School District
- Southwest West Central Service Cooperative
- Spring Lake Park Schools
- St. Cloud Area School District
- Thief River Falls Public School District
- Truman Public Schools
- White Bear Lake Area Schools
- Windom Area Schools
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