Idaho Secures Grant to Improve School Safety

Idaho has been awarded a $125,000 federal grant to continue its work in ensuring every student across our state attends school in a safe and secure environment, Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna announced this week.

“The safety and security of Idaho’s kids is of the highest importance. Our students will never truly be free to learn until they are free from fear,” Superintendent Luna said.

The U.S. Department of Education announced this week Idaho is one of 28 states to receive a Building State Capacity for Preventing Youth Substance Use and Violence program competitive grant. States use this grant funding to support local school districts and public charter schools in their efforts to create and sustain safe and drug-free school environments.

The Idaho State Department of Education will specifically use the $125,000 it receives to maintain its structure of support and technical assistance for Idaho’s public schools and communities across Idaho. The Department will provide hands-on training and create guidance for students, school staff and community stakeholders on how they can work together to mitigate and prevent underage drinking, suicide, bullying and truancy to improve student achievement.

Since taking office in 2007, Superintendent Luna has worked to improve the safety and security of Idaho’s schools.  He spearheaded the Safe and Secure Schools Assessment in 2007, which provided baseline data on school safety and security and brought about meaningful recommendations on ways in which Idaho schools could improve.

Superintendent Luna has also awarded $50,000 to Idaho schools to implement the highly successful Rachel’s Challenge program, which prevents bullying and intimidation among schoolchildren.

~ Melissa M.