Michigan School Districts Earn $2.4M in Grants to Improve Health, Safety, and Wellness of All Learners

Awards help to support Michigan's Top 10 Strategic Education Plan

LANSING, MI – Children in 51 local education agencies, including intermediate school districts, traditional public school districts, and public school academies, will benefit from $2.4 million in additional federal grant funds to provide mental health and other services. The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) awarded the grants.

The funding source is the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which is designated as the Stronger Connections Grant Program, signed into law by former President Joe Biden. It aims to expand vital mental health services and provides additional support for states and districts to design and enhance initiatives that will promote safer and positive school environments for all students, educators, and school staff.

“These grants will make our schools safer and more supportive for our students,” said State Superintendent Dr. Michael F. Rice. “Improving the health, safety, and wellness of Michigan students is one of the goals in Michigan's Top 10 Strategic Education Plan.”

Funds from the competitive Stronger Connections Grant Program may be used by Michigan schools to provide student services and additional training to teachers and staff to provide a wide array of services that may include:

• Fostering safe, healthy, supportive, and drug-free environments.
• Implementing safety and violence prevention programs.
• Creating and implementing anti-bullying and harassment plans.
• Developing and implementing positive and fair discipline policies and practices.
• Implementing Multi-Tiered Systems of Support to address student needs.
• Increasing student access to mental health services.

  
  Recipients and dollar amount for the Stronger Connections Grant Program – Round 2 funding are:
  
  

• Alcona Community Schools, $5,138
• Au Gres-Sims School District, $3,307
• Brandywine Community Schools, $5,947
• Brown City Community Schools, $51,867
• Buchanan Community Schools, $6,476
• Cadillac Area Public Schools, $64,857
• Carman-Ainsworth Community Schools, $40,976
• Central Montcalm Public Schools, $16,419
• Coldwater Community Schools, $117,000
• Copper Country Intermediate School District, $31,762
• Copper Island Academy, $3,201
• Da Vinci Schools, $4,294
• Dearborn City School District, $244,048
• Detroit Academy of Arts and Sciences, $30,024
• Detroit Achievement Academy, $6,099
• Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port Laker Schools, $3,248
• Farwell Area Schools, $11,664
• Ferndale Public Schools, $113,621
• Fostering Leadership Academy, $84,538
• Grand Haven Area Public Schools, $11,000
• Greater Heights Academy, $3,326
• Harrison Community Schools, $19,873
• Hazel ParkSchools, $14,268
• Highpoint Virtual Academy of Michigan, $24,733
• Ida Public School District, $13,500
• Inland Lakes Schools, $115,000
• Insight School of Michigan, $38,250
• Lincoln Consolidated School District, $35,000
• Ludington Area School District, $57,882
• Madison-Carver Academy, $8,098
• Marshall Public Schools, $21,593
• Mason County Central Schools, $7,815
• Melvindale-Northern Allen Park Schools, $23,000
• Mio-AuSable Schools, $7,355
• Montrose Community Schools, $6,245
• Mt. Morris Consolidated Schools, $19,901
• Oak Park Schools, $22,400
• Old Redford Academy, $34,500
• Owosso Public Schools, $176,633
• Paw Paw Public School District, $6,208
• Reed City Area Public Schools, $9,453
• South Redford School District, $31,359
• Southgate Community School District, $503,264
• Summerfield Schools, $3,365
• Tecumseh Public Schools, $6,100
• Tekonsha Community Schools, $3,375
• Vandercook Lake Public Schools, $4,987
• Vestaburg Community Schools, $106,542
• Watervliet School District, $5,552
• West Bloomfield School District, $155,169
• Wexford-Missaukee Intermediate School District, $ 78,804

For this award cycle, grant funds are available Oct. 1, 2024, through Sept. 30, 2026.

In an earlier round of grant awards in August 2024, MDE awarded children in 76 intermediate school districts, public school districts, and public charter schools nearly $20.5 million in grants for mental health and other services.

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