US Department of Education
The U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Safe and Healthy Students awarded Baltimore City School District a Project School Emergency Response to Violence (SERV) grant totaling $292,647. The grant will be used to assist with ongoing recovery efforts following the unrest in Baltimore in April 2015.
“We have to work harder and do more to ensure that our students feel safe in their schools and communities,” said Ann Whalen, senior advisor to the secretary, delegated the duties of the assistant secretary of elementary and secondary education. “As adults, it is our responsibility to help protect and nurture students, especially when tragic incidents occur that affect the school environment and impact the community in such a way that hinders learning. This Project SERV grant will help the district move forward in restoring the learning environment.”
In an effort to provide resources and assistance to local school officials, the Project SERV grant will enable the district to hire additional full-time social workers and psychologists to solely support the schools in restoring the learning environment. These extra social workers and psychologists will conduct home visits for teacher-referred students in need of services, facilitate small group and/or individual sessions with students, prepare lesson plans for teachers to use in classrooms, and provide professional development/trainings for school-based staff.
Over the past year, senior Obama Administration officials visited Frederick Douglass High School to highlight ongoing efforts to support progress and healing in Baltimore, and to improve access to high-quality education and job opportunities for youth. Since the visit, the U.S. Department of Education has been working closely with school officials and community leaders to help strengthen support systems for students and families. The Obama Administration’s commitment to expanding opportunity and equity continues to guide Administration initiatives—from My Brother’s Keeper to Promise Neighborhoods.
The Office of Safe and Healthy Students has awarded more than $42.1 million to 129 grantees, including Baltimore City schools, since the grants program began in 2001. To view a list of Project SERV grantees and award amounts, or to learn more about the program, visit http://www2.ed.gov/programs/dvppserv/index.html.