The Michigan Education Department and four of the state's school districts have been awarded nearly $3 million in federal grants to improve school safety and learning conditions.
The U.S. Education Department announced the grants as part of its effort to improve school safety around, reduce gun violence, and improve mental health services.
More from the U.S. Department of Education’s press release:
To help keep students safe and improve their learning environments, the U.S. Department of Education awarded more than $70 million to 130 grantees in 38 states… “If we can’t help protect kids and staff, and make them feel safe at school, then everything else that we do is secondary,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. “If kids don’t feel safe, they can’t learn. It’s that simple. Through these grants of more than $70 million, we are continuing our commitment to ensure that kids have access to the best learning experience possible.”
Here are the grants awarded in Michigan:
2014 School Climate Transformation Grants to improve students' learning and behavior, especially through better responses to mental-health issues.
- Pigeon - Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port Laker Schools - $361,303
- Detroit - School District of the City of Detroit - $705,797
- Muskegon - Muskegon Area Intermediate School District - $442,125
2014 School Climate Transformation Grants to improve support systems and technical support for student learning.
- Michigan Department of Education - $640,788
2014 Project Prevent Grantees to provide violence-related counseling and programs to decrease bullying, violence, gang involvement and substance abuse.
- Lansing Lansing School District - $763,072
