Superintendent Arntzen Seeks Public Comment on Stronger Connections Grant for Safe and Healthy Students

• Brian O'Leary
• November 03 2022

HELENA – Superintendent Elsie Arntzen is seeking public on the Montana “high-need” criteria for the Stronger Connections Grant.  Through the federal congressional Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA) of June 2022, the Montana Office of Public Instruction was awarded $4.8 million in additional funding for Title IV, Part A of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). This one-time funding is in addition to the Title IV, Part A funding already allocated to the Montana OPI and 95% of these funds will be made available to Montana school districts through a competitive subgrant application.

“The safety and mental health needs of our students through my Montana Hope initiative has been one of my top priorities as State Superintendent,” said Superintendent Elsie Arntzen. “This grant will offer support to many Montana students, families, and communities. I am urging all Montanans to participate in this public comment process that embraces transparency and local control of taxpayer dollars.”

The BSCA bill language includes a requirement for states to distribute funds on a competitive basis to “high need” districts to implement allowable Title IV, Part A activities aligned with the Safe and Healthy Students program purpose. The OPI proposes the following criteria for defining “high need” based on the United States Department of Education guidance:

• School districts with high rates of poverty (40 % or more) AND
• One or more of the following characteristics:
• a high student-to-mental health professional ratio;
• high rates of chronic absenteeism, exclusionary discipline, referrals to the juvenile justice system, bullying/harassment, community, and school violence, or substance abuse; or
• where students recently experienced a natural disaster or traumatic event.

There are multiple opportunities to provide public comment on the Montana “high need” criteria and to provide input on the DRAFT Montana SCG competitive subgrant process:

• Zoom Public Comment Sessions (Zoom Meeting ID: 860 8283 6074, Passcode: 608466):

1. November 3 @ 1:00-1:30 pm
2. November 9 @ 4:00-4:30 pm
3. November 10 @ 10:00-10:30 am

• Complete this form to submit feedback no later than November 15, 2022.
• Send comments via email to: OPIStrongerConnections@mt.gov no later than November 15, 2022.

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