Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced Tuesday that the state is awarding over $30 million in grant funding to support safer and healthier learning environments for Ohio students.
Seven hundred forty-seven districts and schools across the state will receive grant funding totaling $33.3 million as part of the Ohio Department of Education‘s Stronger Connections Grant.
According to DeWine, this grant funding helps ensure that Ohio students are safe and have the resources that they need.
“The Stronger Connections grant strengthens our commitment to ensuring students are safe and have the resources they need while addressing the mental and physical health needs that are critical to ensuring students are ready to learn and be successful in the classroom and in life,” DeWine said.
This grant opportunity complements Future Forward Ohio, another program through the Ohio Department of Education, which encompasses the state’s strategic priorities for using federal funds to help students recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, with an emphasis on the students who had the most disruptions to their education.
According to the press release, districts and schools can use the grant funds to address local health and safety issues, including student wellness and mental health.
All school districts and community schools that applied for the Stronger Connections Grant got a Tier 1 or Tier 2 award based on health and safety factors gleaned from statistics, including poverty rates, chronic absenteeism, and exclusionary discipline.
Eligible schools and districts that demonstrated the highest need and applied for additional funding earned an additional Tier 3 amount. The Tier 3 grantees partnered with local stakeholders and community partners to evaluate their communities’ health and safety needs and plan to use money to help children and educators.
The tiered Stronger Connections Grant Awards have been released to school districts and community schools through the Ohio Department of Education’s Comprehensive Continuous Improvement Plan (CCIP) e-grant system.
Some of the largest recipients include:
- Columbus City Schools District: $1,761,104.33
- Cleveland Municipal School District:$1,688,183.75
- Cincinnati Public Schools: $1,314,469.10
- Akron City School District: $720,275.42
- Dayton City School District: $615,660.11
- Canton City School District: $367,892.78
- Fairborn City Schools: $118,722.37
- Eaton Community Schools: $19,035.14.
According to Dr. Chris Woolard, interim superintendent of Public Instruction, these grant funds are critical to providing students with a positive, safe, and supportive learning environment.
“It is critical for students to enter a positive, safe and supportive learning environment each day as they explore, discover, and achieve. The Stronger Connections grant helps schools to continue addressing challenges that impact a child’s learning so students can focus on reaching success,” Woolard said.
The Stronger Connections Grant supplements the Title IV, Part A, Student Support and Academic Enrichment program.
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Hannah Poling is a lead reporter at The Ohio Star, The Star News Network, and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Hannah on Twitter @HannahPoling1. Email tips to [email protected]
