The U.S. Department of Education announced nearly $1 billion in awards through the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA) in late 2022. The Stronger Connections grants aim to foster academic success for Kentucky students by creating safe and supportive learning opportunities and environments. Kentucky was awarded $15,008,023 through this program.

Through the BSCA, Congress awarded state educational agencies (SEAs) funding to support evidence-based school safety and climate plans and other evidence-based strategies for creating safe, healthy, and supportive schools. The BSCA specifies that SEAs must award these funds competitively to high-need LEAs, as determined by the state.

This grant focuses on helping Kentucky schools foster sustained learning, engagement, and attachment for students. The Stronger Connections Grant Program makes funds available to schools focusing on resilience, mental health support, and improving school climate. 

According to the Department of Education, schools should spend Stronger Connections Grant Program funds to: 

• Meet students’ social, emotional, and mental well-being needs by implementing evidence-based strategies. 
• Nurture positive, inclusive, and supportive school environments.
• Improve access to place-based services and interventions.
• Collaborate with students, families, educators, staff, and community organizations; these groups can collaborate on strategies to create safe, inclusive, and supportive learning environments. 
• Better serve underserved students by designing and implementing policies and practices responsive to their needs, protecting student rights, and demonstrating respect for student dignity and potential. 

The following expenditures are among those that qualify for funding: hiring counselors and nurses, providing teacher training on inclusion and behavioral interventions, expanding mental and behavioral health services, and other efforts to create a positive and supportive climate in Kentucky schools.

As part of the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds were made available to address the pandemic’s impact on student safety and mental well-being. As of June 30, 2022, Kentucky ESSER has awarded $3,122,678,515 to the state.

For the first round of ESSER grants, Kentucky was allocated $193,186,874. The deadline to obligate those funds was Sept. 30, 2022. 

Congress passed the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act in 2020. Under this legislation, Kentucky’s ESSER II allocation was $928,274,720, which was obligated by Sept. 30, 2023. 

The American Rescue Plan made an additional round of funding available. Kentucky’s portion of those ESSER funds is $2,001,216,921. The obligation deadline is Sept. 30, 2024. 

The COPS School Violence Prevention Program is a U.S. Department of Justice program that earmarks funding for evidence-based school safety programs and technology. Schools can use COPS funds to purchase school safety technology that helps identify potential dangers. The purchase of emergency notification and response systems is also eligible for funding. This includes Kentucky school alert systems. To learn more, visit the COPS website.

The Bureau of Justice Assistance also funds school safety initiatives. The U.S. Department of Justice administers these programs. BJA’s STOP School Violence Program provides grant funding for purchasing software designed to keep K-12 schools safe, including Kentucky school alert systems. This program is geared toward recognizing, responding to, and preventing violence on campus. Additional information on the BJA STOP School Violence Program can be found here.