Wisconsin to Receive Funds for Bipartisan Safer Communities Act

Friday, September 30th, 2022 -- 11:00 AM

The U.S. Department of Education announced awards totaling nearly $1 billion through the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.

The Stronger Connections grants will help schools provide all students with safe and supportive learning opportunities and environments that are critical for their success. Wisconsin will receive $12,509,470.

Through the BSCA, Congress provided $1 billion in Title IV, Part A formula funding to state educational agencies to develop state grant programs to provide students with safer and healthier learning environments.

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, as determined by the state, to fund activities allowable under section 4108 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.

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.

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 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.

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