News Briefs | FYI | May 29, 2023

Association of California School Administrators

News Briefs | FYI

May 29, 2023

ED awards $95 million for school-based mental health

The Biden-Harris Administration has announced more than $95 million in awards across 35 states to increase access to school-based mental health services and strengthen the pipeline of mental health professionals in high-needs school districts.

The awards were funded by the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which President Joe Biden signed into law on June 25, 2022, and they help advance the administration’s efforts to tackle the mental health crisis in schools as part of his National Mental Health Strategy.

The Department of Education has awarded $286 million across 264 grantees in 48 states and territories to boost the training, hiring and diversification of mental health professionals through two grants — the School-Based Mental Health grant program and Mental Health Service Professional grant program — in Biden’s Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. Grantees estimate that these funds collectively will prepare more than 14,000 new mental health professionals for America’s schools.

The announcement of 93 additional MHSP awards on May 15 follows the awarding of $46 million to 67 grantees in December, and means that the department will fund a total of 160 MHSP grantees across the country who will train and place thousands of diverse and certified mental health providers in schools with the most need.

The new MHSP Demonstration Grant awardees from California are:

San Francisco State University, $1,125,088.
University Corporation at Monterey Bay, $1,199,177.
Los Angeles Unified School District, $1,200,000.
Santa Ana Unified School District, $921,500.
Riverside County Office of Education, $1,149,984.
Del County Norte County Unified School District, $611,259.
University of the Pacific, $1,082,192.
San Diego County Office of Education, $481,124.
Humboldt State University Sponsored Programs Foundation, $174,071.
Solano County Superintendent of Schools, $818,116.
Santa Clara County Office of Education, $976,050.
California State University Long Beach Research Foundation, $747,828.
Northern Humboldt Union High School District, $1,077,494.
Oxnard School District, $920,761.

Districts recognized for school safety and wellness efforts

Navigate360 is recognizing nine school districts, including one in California, with their District Excellence for School Safety & Student Wellness award. Presented with honors during National Youth Violence Prevention Week April 24-28, this recognition acknowledges each district’s leadership, commitment to elevated standards and continued dedication to creating safe spaces where children can experience each school day without fear.

Nationwide, there is heightened concern around acts of violence in schools. There have been 14 school shootings resulting in injuries or death in 2023 to date. Additionally, Navigate360 data show alerts related to self-harm are up 51 percent year-over-year and alerts related to weapons and harm to others are up 25 percent year-over-year. On average, the report also found more than 4,000 anonymous tips per week come into school tip lines, with the most common tips related to self-harm and weapons.

Navigate360 is proud to recognize these District Excellence for School Safety & Student Wellness awardees for going above and beyond — leading the way through the implementation of holistic, layered and proactive approaches: Birdville Independent School District (Texas); Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District (Texas); Escambia County School District (Florida); Jefferson Joint School District 251 (Idaho); North Shore School District (Illinois); Northwest Independent School District (Texas); Round Rock Independent School District (Texas); Visalia Unified School District (California); and Walton County School District (Florida).

“School safety is a multi-faceted and complex topic — it requires a layered approach, coordination with the community, repeated assessments, training and drills. Physically, psychologically and emotionally our children need to feel safe if they are to pursue academic learning and reach their full potential,” said JP Guilbault, Chief Executive Officer at Navigate360, in a news release.

FYI

ACSA members can access strike preparation assistance

Are you prepared? ACSA offers strike preparation training to school districts. The assistance includes step-by-step guidance on what to expect and how to prepare should a strike occur. ACSA’s Strike Preparation Assistance includes helping members understand legal issues regarding strikes, unprotected and protected concerted activity, roles and responsibilities, post-strike procedures, communication and public relations, and more. Need subs? ACSA can reach out to recently retired members to announce your teacher sub opportunity. To make an appointment with an ACSA Strike expert, please contact memberservices@acsa.org.

Grants available for SPED professional development

The U.S. Department of Education is issuing a notice inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year 2023 for personnel development in special education. The Personnel Development to Improve Services and Results for Children with Disabilities Program works to prepare personnel to work in special education, early intervention and related services, as well as regular education to work with children and youth with disabilities. This program further ensures those personnel have skills and knowledge, through practices that are determined through scientifically based research, to be successful in serving those children. The one absolute priority for this competition is preparation of related services personnel serving children with disabilities who have high-intensity needs. Estimated available funds total $6,750,000. Applications are due by June 29, 2023, and further information is available at bit.ly/3IjLQpj.