Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards $161,918 in Grants to Support Safe and Supportive Schools
Grants support 38 schools in creating safe, healthy and inclusive learning environments
EVERETT – The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced today that it is awarding $161,918 in state-funded grants that will help 18 school districts and 38 schools to create equitable, safe, positive, and inclusive school learning environments. This includes support in integrating services and aligning initiatives that promote students' behavioral health and wellness, including social and emotional learning, bullying prevention, dropout prevention, inclusion of students with disabilities, positive behavioral approaches that reduce suspensions and expulsions, and other similar initiatives.
“Our administration is committed to ensuring that Massachusetts students have the behavioral health care they need to balance their mental health and education. I look forward to seeing how this funding will help 38 schools deepen their local efforts in providing safe and supportive schools for all students,” said Governor Maura Healey.
“A total of 18 school districts and their selected schools will receive funds through this grant opportunity to help them to create equitable, safe, supportive, and welcoming school environments,” said Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll.
Awardees either receive grants for action planning or implementation and support. In the planning stage, grantees convene a school team composed of various stakeholders, including teachers, nurses, counselors, parents, and students, to complete the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s (DESE) Safe and Supportive Schools Self-Reflection Tool. Districts utilize the tool to identify areas to prioritize for improvements related to creating safer and more supportive learning environments and develop an action plan aligned to school and district priorities. Grantees in the implementation phase begin or continue to implement their school-based action plans. These grantees also serve as mentors for and provide support to the planning awardees, as well as to the Safe and Supportive Schools Commission.
“The country is facing a youth mental health crisis that has manifested in many ways and requires a multitude of responses. These grants are an important tool in our work to provide schools with resources and supports that enable safe, inclusive and welcoming environments for all students,” said Education Secretary Dr. Patrick Tutwiler.
“These awards will help strengthen school environments for students across the Commonwealth. With the collaborative efforts of school-based teams, district leaders, and other stakeholders, grantees will focus on priorities that will integrate and align initiatives to promote and improve students’ behavioral health. This funding can help communities be equitable, safer and more supportive for students, and will help schools and districts learn from and with their peers as well,” said Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Pedro Martinez.
“The Legislature funds these grants to promote safe and supportive school environments that support mental health, foster learning, and lead to future success for all students,” said Senator Jason Lewis (D - Fifth Middlesex), Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Education. “Integrating support services and ensuring that schools have the resources to promote mental health and well-being for their students is crucial for building a safe and positive community for young students.”
"It is crucial to the success of our students that schools are a place they feel safe and supported," said Representative Ken Gordon (D-Bedford), House Chair of the Joint Committee on Education. “These grants are an important step forward in expanding access to mental health services and strengthening the essential support systems our schools provide."
Action planning grantees:
- Brockton Public Schools: $10,000
- Community Day Charter Public School (Lawrence): $10,000
- Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District (Hathorne): $10,000
- Four Rivers Charter Public (Greenfield): $6,950
- Granby Public Schools : $5,620
- Lowell Public Schools: $10,000
- Maynard Public Schools: $4,000
- Methuen Public Schools: $10,000
- North Andover Public Schools: $10,000
- Provincetown Public Schools: $10,000
- Sturgis Charter Public School (Hyannis): $10,000
- Wachusett Regional School District (Jefferson): $10,000
- Webster Public Schools: $10,000
- Worcester Public Schools: $9,988
Implementation and mentoring/support grantees:
- Frontier Regional School District (South Deerfield): $7,360
- Hilltown Coop Charter Public School (Easthampton): $8,000
- Hoosac Valley Regional School District (Adams): $10,000
- Tantasqua Regional School District (Fiskdale): $10,000
沒有留言:
發佈留言