4998(4S)

The program will support high-need local education agencies (LEAs) to develop comprehensive school systems grounded in local evidence-based school safety and climate plans, along with other evidence-based strategies for creating safe, healthy, and supportive schools, through meaningful engagement between school and LEA leaders, educators and students, parents, families, and community members, and strong relationships between students and adults by: 1. Implementing comprehensive, evidence-based strategies that meet each student’s social, emotional, physical, and mental well-being needs; create positive, inclusive, and supportive school environments; and increase access to place-based interventions and services. 2. Engaging students, families, educators, staff, and community organizations in the selection and implementation of strategies and interventions to create safe, inclusive and supportive learning environments. 3. Designing and implementing policies and practices that advance equity and are responsive to underserved students, protect student rights, and demonstrate respect for student dignity and potential.

PL 117-159 BIPARTISAN SAFER COMMUNITIES ACT TITLE II SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMS (JUNE 25, 2022) BIPARTISAN SAFER COMMUNITIES ACT (BSCA)

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The Stronger Connections Grant aims to improve or establish safe, healthy, and supportive learning opportunities and environments for students and educators. This program, through the development or expansion of relationships with LEA leaders, educators and students, parents, families, and community members, and strong relationships between students and adults will allow applicants to utilize data from an evidenced-based needs assessment to develop an action shall address the following: Provides LEAs the flexibility to determine the best approach to respond to the local needs of school community based on provide ongoing and meaningful opportunities for educators and staff to be involved in the selection of evidence-based strategies and activities implemented to increase student, educator, and staff safety and well-being to meet each student’s social, emotional, physical, and mental well-being needs; create positive, inclusive, and supportive school environments; and increase access to place-based interventions and services. Allows for the utilization of funds for a range of services and activities as allowed under ESEA section 4108, fostering a safe, healthy, supportive, and drug-free environments and support students’ academic achievement from prevention to early intervention to treatment. Encourages grantees to use a variety of evidence-based approaches that LEAs can consider as part of a comprehensive plan for creating safe, supportive, and healthy schools leading to safe and welcoming teaching and learning environments, building upon steps to be prepared to respond to different types of emergency situations fortified by prevention, protection, mitigation, response, and recovery activities through a shared responsibility between local school and community leaders, including leaders in the following spaces: schools, emergency responders, public health, and mental and behavioral health. Supports local efforts to integrate evidenced-based programs focused on the whole child and provide services and supports to reduce or eliminate exclusionary practices in consideration of non-cognitive development (social, emotional, and behavioral), mental wellness and physical health for children while increasing student connections and a sense of belonging at school, and school-related activities extending beyond the school day, including out-of-school opportunities. Promotes Integrated Student Wellness Supports: Address out-of-school barriers through partnerships with community social and health service agencies, including, but not limited to, social-emotional learning; trauma; conflict resolution; restorative justice practices; access to mental health services; decreasing bullying; and punitive disciplinary actions.

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Education Organizations;

Eligible applicants are high-need Local Education Agencies (LEAs) as determined by the state that provide activities that support safe & healthy students under section 4108 of the ESEA. ISBE has established a high need LEA is an LEA where at least forty percent (40%) of the LEA’s student population qualifies for free/reduced lunch, and the LEA must meet at least pone of the following characteristics: (1) High student-to-mental health professional ratio (2) High rates of chronic absenteeism, exclusionary discipline, referrals to the juvenile justice system, bullying/harassment, community and school violence, or substance abuse; or (3) Where students recently experienced a natural disaster or traumatic event

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Project Grants

Education

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Formula - Applications are found within ISBE’s IWAS system. RFP - Applications are found at https://www.isbe.net/Pages/Request-for-Proposals.aspx. Applications should be scanned into one PDF with all supporting documents and required signatures then uploaded into the ISBE Attachment Manager is found at https://sec1.isbe.net/attachmgr/default.aspx Continuation Grant - Applications are found within ISBE’s IWAS system

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RFP - ISBE's Merit Based Review (Award Process) is conducted following Sections C and D of ISBE's Merit Based Review Policy https://www.isbe.net/Documents/Merit_Based_Review_Policy.pdf Continuation Grant - Applications are reviewed using modified Merit Based Review Process

RFP - Applications are due 45 calendar days from release of RFP. Continuation Grant - Applications are due within 30 calendar days of receipt

RFP - Tentative Award announcements are generally released via email 90 calendar days after the close of the RFP. Continuation Grant - Applications are generally approved or returned for changes within 30 calendar days of receipt

RFP - Appeals are conducted following Section E of ISBE's Merit Based Review Policy https://www.isbe.net/Documents/Merit_Based_Review_Policy.pdf Continuation Grant – N/A

Funding in the subsequent years will be contingent upon compliance with federal and state law, state grant-making rules, passage of sufficient appropriations for the program, and satisfactory performance in the preceding grant period.

A cost sharing or matching component is acceptable but not required for these funds

Non-Allowable Use of Funds • Dangerous weapons or the training in the use of a dangerous weapon • Drug testing • Capitol assets including land • School construction • Stronger Connections award may not transfer funds out of that award to another authorized program. • Food & Beverage for students and staff • Any activity outside the goals and objectives of this grant Allowable Use of Funds • Meeting the social and emotional needs of students • Meeting the social and emotional needs of students • Drug and violence prevention activities that are evidence-based • Providing integrated support services for students • Comprehensive health education programs • Integrating health and safety practices into school or athletic programs • Implementation of schoolwide positive behavioral interventions and supports • Bullying and harassment prevention • Activities that improve instructional practices for developing relationship-building skills • Mentoring and school counseling • Increasing student connections and a sense of belonging at school • Establishing or improving school dropout and reentry programs • Suicide prevention • Crisis management and conflict resolution techniques • School-based violence prevention strategies • Reducing exclusionary disciplinary practices • Supporting students in alternative education programs • Establishing partnerships within the community to provide resources and support for schools • Strengthening relationships between schools and communities • High-quality training for school personnel in effective practices related to any of the above • Increasing student connections and a sense of belonging at school • Providing related professional development to educators, including principals and other leaders, to support strategy implementation such as trauma-informed practices.

Expenditure reports to be submitted on quarterly basis via IWAS. Programmatic reports are submitted annually. Final programmatic report due 30 days after completion of grant period.

In accordance with the provisions of 2 CFR 200, Subpart F - Audit Requirements, nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $750,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Non-Federal entities that expend less than $750,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in 2 CFR 200.503 In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular no. a-133 (revised, June 27, 2003; OMB A-133 compliance supplement 2015), "audits of states, local governments, and non-profit organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $750,000 or more in federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Non-federal entities that expend less than $750,000 a year in federal awards are exempt from federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in circular no. a-133. In accordance with the Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in the appendix to 34 CFR, Part 80, requires state and local governments that receive financial assistance of $750,000 or more within the state's fiscal year have an audit made for that year. State and local governments that receive between $25,000 and $750,000 within the state's fiscal year shall have an audit made in accordance with the appendix to Part 80, or in accordance with federal laws and regulations governing the programs in which they participate.

In accordance with section 443(a) of the General Education Provisions Act, States and LEAs must maintain certain program records for 3 years. The Uniform Guidance (2 CFR §200.333) requires financial records, supporting documents, statistical records, and all other non-Federal entity records pertinent to a Federal award must be retained for a period of three years from the date of submission of the final expenditure report or, for Federal awards that are renewed quarterly or annually, from the date of the submission of the quarterly or annual financial report, respectively, as reported to the Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity in the case of a subrecipient.

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Final Bipartisan Safer Communities Act Stronger Connections Frequently Asked Questions – Nonregulatory Guidance. Guiding Principles for Creating Safe, Inclusive, Supportive, and Fair School Climates

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Illinois State Board of Education 100 N 1st Street Springfield IL 62777-0001

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3/5/2024

FY 2025 : $40,424,746