Once again the federal government is offering Safe Schools/Healthy Students (SS/HS) Program grants to school districts around the United States. This comprehensive grant brings local educational agencies (LEAs) an opportunity to implement an “integrated, comprehensive community-wide plan designed to create safe, respectful, and drug-free school environments and promote pro-social skills and healthy childhood development. Plans must focus activities, curricula, programs, and services in a manner that responds to the community's existing needs, gaps, or weaknesses.”

The Improve Group has extensive experience as an evaluator for Minnesota LEAs who have received the SS/HS grant. We have also assisted districts in writing the evaluation portion of their application. The following is al list of Minnesota schools districts that have all had SS/HS program evaluation collaborations with the Improve Group:

Climax-Shelly, Fisher, Greenbush Middle River, Norman County East, Norman County West, Oklee, Plummer, Red Lake Falls, Roseville, Spring Lake Park, Stephen-Argyle, Tri-County.

Plans submitted for this grant must address the 5 key elements:
1. Safe School Environments and Violence Prevention Activities.
2. Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drug Prevention Activities.
3. Student Behavioral, Social, and Emotional Supports.
4. Mental Health Services.
5. Early Childhood Social and Emotional Learning Programs.

Applications are available January 5, 2009 and the deadline for submission is March 4, 2009. Applicants who have not yet received a SS/HS grant will be given priority. For more detailed information on SS/HS click here. To download application go to:
http://www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/grantapps/index.html.