In response to the Uvalde school shooting, leaders approved funding for the Stronger Connections grant. School districts can use this grant to improve the mental health of their students.
SOUTH CAROLINA, USA — The South Carolina Department of Education expects more school districts to apply for school safety grants during the newly opened second application period.
As WCNC Charlotte previously reported, the state still has more than $10 million in Stronger Connections grants left, although a small number of school districts applied when it was first announced. The grant, funded by Congress in response to the 2022 Uvalde mass shooting, is intended to prevent future violence and improve students' mental health.
“If you are qualified, please apply,” said a Ministry of Education spokesperson. jason raven Said. “We just want to make sure this (money) gets sent and doesn't have to be sent back.”
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More than 50 districts are targeted and there is enough money to fund about 29 grants, according to state records. Even though the federal government announced more than $15 million in funding for South Carolina in 2022, only 16 districts applied and only 12 districts actually received the funds.
Stronger Connections grants are designed to help school districts with high rates of poverty, bullying, absenteeism, and exclusionary discipline. To date, York School District 1 is the only school system in the Charlotte area to receive a Stronger Connections grant. The district is using this funding to provide every school with its own mental health therapist.
“We want to make sure that all of this goes to the districts that need it the most,” Raven said.
Eligible Lancaster County school districts did not apply in the first round. When WCNC Charlotte asked why, LCSD communications specialist Michelle Craig said the timing of the initial application process was not ideal.
“Based on the information I have gathered, we would not have had the necessary or sufficient input from families, educators and the community over the summer,” she said in January. “I will apply again if the opportunity arises.”
Neither Rock Hill Schools nor the Chester County School District applied in the first round. Instead, both applied for different safety grants from the state.
“Authorized activities mentioned in the (Stronger Connections) sub-grant include the integration of school-based violence prevention programs, mental health and counseling support, and bullying prevention programs,” said Chris, director of marketing and communications. Kristoff Jr. spoke on WCNC Charlotte in January. . “CCSD has been allocated resources to address these areas, including behavioral interventionists, programs focused on student and staff health, and mental health counselors serving students in each attendance zone. , we consistently evaluate available funding opportunities and adjust our plans accordingly.''To meet the needs of our students and community, last fall the district received a School Safety Grant from the South Carolina Department of Education. I applied for an alternative subsidy from the Gold Fund. The grant specifically focuses on enhancing the safety of school buildings through measures such as internal door locks and window films. / coverings, bulletproof glass or films on windows, secure entry points, access controls, and other technological advancements that improve campus safety. ”
The Department of Education is optimistic that schools will take advantage of both state safety grants aimed at physical improvements and federal grants focused on improving mental health and emotional support. are doing. The deadline for applications for the second round is May 1, 2024.
WCNC Charlotte's investigation also found that North Carolina did not award any of its $29 million Stronger Connections grant. As of January, the state had not even graded 41 applications submitted by districts. Bureaucracy and communication problems contributed to these delays.
Contact Nate Morabito. nmorabito@wcnc.com and follow him Facebook, X and Instagram.
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