Specifications include, but are not limited to: The Mississippi Department of Education (MDE), Office of Federal Programs is seeking competitive written proposals from qualified applicants to provide services implementing the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act Stronger Connections Grant Program (BSCA) through grant awards issued by the Mississippi Department of Education. The purpose of this competitive grant is to provide qualifying LEA’s the opportunity to establish strategies and to carry out activities that will help to increase student’s sense of belonging. LEAs are invited to compete for funding to support one or more of the following strategies established by: Implementing comprehensive, evidence-based strategies that meet each student’s social, emotional, physical, and mental well-being needs; creating positive, inclusive, and supportive school environments; and increasing access to place-based interventions and services. 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. 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. Stronger Connections Grant Program expects local evidence-based school safety and climate plans, along with other evidence-based strategies for creating safe, healthy, and supportive schools. These plans depend on and must demonstrate meaningful engagement between school and LEA leaders and students, parents, families, guardians, and community members, and strong relationships between students and adults. These connections are vital for ensuring that school safety and climate plans are tailored to local conditions, lived experiences, and needs; well-designed; effectively implemented; and clearly communicated, including to families. An LEA that receives a grant under the program shall use grant fund for activities that are reasonable, necessary, and allowable under section 4108 of the ESEA to provide students with safer and healthier learning environments. Examples of allowable services or activities include: Implementation of high-quality, comprehensive emergency operating plans and emergency drills. Safety and violence prevention programs. Evidence-based interventions that have been shown to significantly improve student safety and health as well as academic outcomes. Implementing anti-bully and harassment plans. Designing and implementing positive and faire discipline policies and practices. Develop, implement, and evaluate comprehensive programs and activities to establish safe, healthy, and supportive learning environment that enhance students’ learning and academic success (multi-tiered system of support to support and respond to student needs). Schoolwide implementation of strategies to meet students’ social, emotional, and academic needs.
