Stronger Connections Grant (SCG) Program FY23

Purpose

The purpose of the SCG is to increase the capacity of SEAs and the identified high-need LEAs to:

  • provide ALL students with safe, inclusive, and supportive learning environments.

  • increase students’ sense of belonging with culturally and linguistically responsive practices where students are surrounded by trusting and caring adults committed to building strong relationships. 

  • build connections that will make students less likely to bring weapons to school and more likely to report the presence of weapons in school; and

  • support students with overcoming challenging and traumatic experiences through nurturing learning environments that provide a sense of emotional and physical safety.


When will the application be open?

Friday, March 10, 2023


Application Submission Date:

​Tuesday, May 23, 2023. No later than 5:00 p.m. EST



Customer Service Support Sessions

The Stronger Connections Grant (SCG) Program was authorized under the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA) passed on June 25, 2022. Under the BSCA, state education agencies (SEAs) must award these funds competitively to high-need local education agencies (LEAs) to fund activities allowable under §4108 - Activities to Support Safe and Healthy Students of the Title IV, Part A: Student Support and Academic Enrichment grant (SSAE) as authorized in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). The MSDE will send out a special transmittal to eligible LEAs 3/14/23 inviting them to apply for this competitive grant. Customer service sessions are scheduled for:

Customer Session 1

Wednesday, March 29, 2023
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Join video call or dial: ‪(US) +1 929-266-1746 PIN: ‪491 537 595#‬‬‬‬
More phone numbers: https://tel.meet/shc-khcf-hsh?pin=4932250238172

Customer Session 2

Monday, April 10, 2023
10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Join video call or dial: ‪(US) +1 443-671-8319 PIN: ‪747 383 672#‬‬‬‬
More phone numbers: https://tel.meet/raa-qxvp-shr?pin=8966040132711

Customer Session 3

Wednesday, May 3, 2023
10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Join video call or dial: ‪‪(US) +1 929-266-1746 PIN: ‪491 537 595#‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬
More phone numbers: https://tel.meet/shc-khcf-hsh?pin=4932250238172

Bipartisan Safer Communities Act – Stronger Connections Grant

The SCG was authorized under the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA) passed on June 25, 2022. Under the BSCA, state education agencies (SEAs) must award these funds competitively to high-need local education agencies (LEAs). MSDE received approval to utilize the Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) as the program eligibility criterion in compliance with federal law. The following fourteen LEAs are eligible based on a SVI cutoff of 0.4 or greater:

Allegany County
Baltimore City
Baltimore County
Caroline County
Cecil County
Dorchester County
Kent County
Montgomery County
Prince George's County
Somerset County
St. Mary's County
Washington County
Wicomico County
Worcester County

In addition, MSDE will offer open office hours April 5, 2023, from 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. and April 17, 2023, from 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m., and May 8, 2023, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. details can be found on the MSDE Grants Program website. Please contact Donald Corbin, Program Specialist, Division of Student Support, Academic Enrichment, & Educational Policy at donald.corbin@maryland.gov.


Questions     

If you have questions about the application or the process, please contact:

Mary Gable
Assistant State Superintendent
Office: (410) 767-0472
Email: mary.gable@maryland.gov

or

Donald Corbin
School Safety Specialist
Office: (410) 767–0792

A list of frequently asked questions (FAQ) and answers will be posted to the MSDE website following customer service support sessions.
Stronger Connections Grant (SCG) Program FY23 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)