Washington Middle School in Jamestown will receive $100,000 from the state Education Department through its Supportive Schools Grant program.

The state program will pay for initiatives to improve school climate in economically disadvantaged schools identified as being in the greatest need of assistance in building healthy, supportive and safe learning environments. The 2018-19 state budget included $2 million to establish the Supportive Schools Grant program. The remaining money will be used to establish a Safe and Supportive Schools Technical Assistance Center.

“We know a positive school climate has a positive impact on school safety, student social and emotional well-being and mental health,” said Mary Ellen Elia, state education commissioner. “When our children feel safe and accepted, they are better prepared to learn. We thank the Governor and Legislature for including funds for these Safe and Supportive Schools grants in the Enacted Budget and expect this will help our schools build toward offering further social emotional support in their communities.”

To determine school eligibility for grant funding, state Education Department officials identified the middle and high schools that were above the statewide average in each of the following areas:

¯ School Violence Index (SVI), which is the count of weighted incidents as a percentage of enrollment; and

¯ Suspension Rate; and

¯ Percentage of students who were Chronically Absent; and

¯ The Dropout Rate (for schools with high school grades only);

or schools that were identified with a Persistently Dangerous Designation for the 2018-19 school year.

The schools that met these criteria were then sorted by those that serve the largest percentage of economically disadvantaged students so the grant funding could benefit the largest population of students who need it most.

The Safe and Supportive Schools Technical Assistance Center will provide on-site technical assistance and monitor the implementation of grantee school climate improvement plans as well as identify appropriate, evidence-based providers of programs in bullying and violence prevention and school climate targeted to grantee schools’ needs.

Each district was awarded up to $100,000 and must submit an application for the department’s approval that describes how the money will be used to supplement, not supplant, existing district resources to promote positive school climate; improve parent and student engagement; and reduce violence and incidences of bullying, harassment, and discrimination. Schools will also be required to administer the U.S. Department of Education School Climate Survey in spring 2019.

The $1.6 million was allocated between New York City and rest of the state by student enrollment. For the 2017-18 school year, New York City schools comprised 43.4 percent of kindergarten through 12th grade enrollment statewide, so Education Department officials allocated $700,000 across seven New York City community school districts and $900,000 across nine districts in the rest of the state.