OHIO — Districts and schools statewide will receive funding from Gov. Mike DeWine to create safer and healthier learning environments through the Ohio Department of Education's Stronger Connections Grant. 

Across Ohio, $33.3 million was awarded to 747 schools and districts through the program. 

What You Need To Know

  • Across Ohio, $33.3 million was awarded to 747 schools and districts through the Stronger Connections Grant

  • The grant was created through the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act and has a competitive grant application process

  • The grant complements the Future Forward Ohio program. which prioritizes helping students recover from the impact of the pandemic

  • The districts and community schools who applied for the grant received either a Tier 1 or Tier 2 award based on health and safety factors

“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,” said DeWine in a news release.

The grant was created through the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act and has a competitive grant application process available to eligible Local Education Agencies, including public districts and community schools.

The grant complements the Future Forward Ohio program, which encompasses the state’s strategic priorities for using federal funds to help students recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. School districts can use the funds for health and safety needs, including student wellness and mental health.

The districts and community schools who applied for the grant received either a Tier 1 or Tier 2 award based on health and safety factors. The data collected to determine those factors included rates of poverty, chronic absenteeism, and exclusionary discipline.

Eligible schools that demonstrated the highest need and applied for additional funding received an additional Tier 3 amount. 

Tier 3 grantees collaborated with stakeholders and community partners to determine the needs within the community and plan for use of funds to support both students and educators. 

“It is critical for students to enter a positive, safe and supportive learning environment each day as they explore, discover, and achieve,” said Chris Woolard, interim superintendent of Public Instruction. “The Stronger Connections grant helps schools to continue addressing challenges that impact a child’s learning so students can focus on reaching success.” 

The grant awards were released through the Department’s Comprehensive Continuous Improvement Plan (CCIP) e-grant system.  

For more information on the Stronger Connections Grant, click here.

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