SOUTH CAROLINA, USA — The South Carolina Department of Education is hopeful more districts will apply for school safety grants during a newly opened second round of applications.
As WCNC Charlotte previously reported, the state has more than $10 million in Stronger Connections grants still available after few districts applied for money when first announced. The grants, which Congress funded in the aftermath of the deadly mass shooting in Uvalde in 2022, are meant to help prevent future violence and improve student mental health.
"If you are eligible, please, please apply," Department of Education spokesperson Jason Raven said. "We just want to make sure that this (money) gets out there and we don't have to send any of it back."
State records show more than 50 districts are eligible and there's enough money to fund roughly 29 grants. Despite the federal government announcing more than $15 million in funding for South Carolina in 2022, only 16 districts applied and just 12 actually received money.
The Stronger Connections grants are supposed to help school districts with high rates of poverty, bullying, absenteeism and exclusionary discipline. To date, York School District 1 is the only school system in the Charlotte area that's received a Stronger Connections grant. The district is using the money to ensure every school has its own mental health therapist.
"We want to make sure that all of this gets allocated to the school districts that need it most," Raven said.
Lancaster County School District, which is eligible, did not apply in the first round. When WCNC Charlotte questioned why, LCSD Communications Specialist Michelle Craig said the timing of the initial application process was not ideal.
"From what I have gathered, we would not have been able to secure the necessary or adequate input from families, educators and the community over the summer," she said in January. "If the opportunity becomes available again, we will apply."
Neither Rock Hill Schools nor the Chester County School District applied in the first round. Instead, both applied for different safety grants from the state.
"The authorized activities that the (Stronger Connections) subgrant mentions included school-based violence prevention programming, mental health and counseling support, and integration of anti-bullying programming," Director of Marketing and Communications Chris Christoff, Jr. told WCNC Charlotte in January. "CCSD has resources allocated to address these areas including behavioral interventionists, programming that centers on student and staff wellness, and mental health counselors which are responsible for students in each attendance zone. The Chester County School District consistently assesses available funding opportunities to align with the needs of its students and community. Last fall for example, the District applied for an alternative grant from the SC Department of Education for School Safety Grant Funds. This grant focuses specifically on enhancing school building security through measures such as internal door locks, window film/covers, bulletproof glass or film for windows, secure entry points, access control, and other technological advancements to improve campus safety."
The Department of Education is optimistic schools will take advantage of both state-funded safety grants that target physical improvements and the federal money focused on improving mental health and emotional support. The deadline to apply for the second round is May 1, 2024.
WCNC Charlotte's investigation also previously found North Carolina has failed to award any of its $29 million in Stronger Connections grant money. As of January, the state had not even scored the 41 applications submitted by districts. Bureaucracy and communication problems led to those delays. WCNC Charlotte asked the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction Friday for an update on when the money would be awarded, but the agency has yet to provide an answer.
In response to WCNC Charlotte's reporting, Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona expressed concerns.
Contact Nate Morabito at nmorabito@wcnc.com and follow him on Facebook, X and Instagram.
Flashpoint is a weekly in-depth look at politics in Charlotte, North Carolina, South Carolina, and beyond with host Ben Thompson. Listen to the podcast weekly.
SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts || Spotify || Pandora || Google Podcasts || iHeart
All of WCNC Charlotte's podcasts are free and available for both streaming and download. You can listen now on Android, iPhone, Amazon, and other internet-connected devices. Join us from North Carolina, South Carolina, or on the go anywhere.