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# Midwest Region: Department Awards Nearly $1 Billion to 56 States and Territories to Provide Students with Safer and Healthier Learning Environments

# Midwest Region: Department Awards Nearly $1 Billion to 56 States and Territories to Provide Students with Safer and Healthier Learning Environments

September 29, 2022

**Contact:  **press@ed.gov

                                    -        
The U.S. Department of Education announced awards totaling nearly $1 billion through the *Bipartisan Safer Communities Act*(BSCA). The Stronger Connections grants will  help schools provide all students with safe and supportive learning  opportunities and environments that are critical for their success.

Through the BSCA, and under the leadership of President Biden, Congress provided $1 billion in Title IV, Part A formula funding to state educational agencies (SEAs) to develop state grant programs to provide  students with safer and healthier learning environments. Earlier today, Secretary Cardona informed chief state school officers of their allocations  under the BSCA Stronger Connections grant program. SEAs must award these funds competitively to high-need local educational agencies (LEAs), as determined by the state, to fund activities allowable under section 4108 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). 

“We have years of evidence that demonstrate the  value of building safe and supportive schools. These efforts improve academic achievement, promote emotional well-being, reduce disciplinary actions, and increase positive behaviors,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona.  “Safe and supportive schools help our children and youth overcome trauma and provide a strong foundation of emotional and physical safety. These grants will provide *real*benefits to *real*students  in *real*schools.”

Safe and supportive schools are proven by decades of rigorous research to be most effective in supporting academic success as well as meeting the social, emotional, physical, and mental health needs of students. These funds can also be used to support school and community partnerships that pursue multifaceted solutions to more effectively prevent and  respond to acts of bullying, violence, and hate that impact members of our school communities at both individual and systemic levels.

As part of the Department’s announcement, Secretary  Cardona sent chief state school officers a Dear Colleague Letter outlining three  principles that SEAs are strongly encouraged to consider when designing a  competitive grant competition and providing LEAs with direction for how they  use these funds: (1)  create positive, inclusive, and supportive school  environments; and increase access to place-based interventions and services (2)  Engaging students, families, educators, staff, and community organizations in  the selection and implementation of strategies and interventions to create  safe, inclusive, and supportive learning environments (3) Designing and implementing policies and practices that are responsive to underserved  students, protect student rights, and demonstrate respect for student dignity  and potential. These policies are consistent with the Administration’s previous  position on these issues.

Funds can be used to provide all students with safe and supportive learning opportunities and environments that are critical for their success. For example, funds could support the kind of work underway in Saint Paul Public Schools in Minnesota where they are  spending almost $13 million in American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds to support the  mental health and wellness of students and staff. This approach includes: hiring 32 additional counselors, social workers, and  psychologists; partnering with community organizations to offer mental health  support for students; training staff on how to handle trauma; and creating  calming spaces for staff and students. 
More information about the BSCA Stronger Connections grant program can be found here.

Allocations for the Midwest region:
      Kansas 
$6,450,520

 Illinois

$40,627,885

 Indiana

 $14,216,829

 Iowa

$5,988,079

 Michigan

$27,899,224

 Minnesota

$10,481,264

 Missouri

$15,082,238

 Nebraska

$4,833,025

 North Dakota

$4,833,025

 Ohio

 $35,078,494

 South Dakota

$4,833,025

Wisconsin

$12,509,470
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