Purpose
On June 25, 2022, President Biden signed the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA), which provides $1 billion in funding to State educational agencies (SEAs) to be distributed under Title IV, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA). The BSCA specifies that SEAs must make competitive subgrants to high-need local educational agencies (LEAs), as determined by the SEA, for activities to support safe and healthy students under section 4108 of the ESEA. The Department has designated BSCA section 4108 funds as the Stronger Connections grant program to distinguish it from the regular Title IV, Part A, Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grants program, which funds a broader range of activities, including activities to support well-rounded educational opportunities and the effective use of educational technology. The Department announced allocations and awarded Stronger Connections funds to SEAs on September 15, 2022.
How does Stronger Connections relate to the existing Title IV, Part A formula grant program?
Congress provided funding in the BSCA for the Stronger Connections grant program under Title IV, Part A of the ESEA, but established some requirements unique from the typical Title IV, Part A program. Under Stronger Connections, an SEA must make subgrant awards on a competitive basis to high-need LEAs, as determined by the SEA,a and funds may be used only for activities authorized under section 4108 of the ESEA. Funds allocated under the program must be administered and tracked separately from an SEA’s or LEA’s regular Title IV, Part A formula allocation.
Because each SEA included Title IV, Part A in its approved ESEA consolidated State plan, an SEA is not required to amend its ESEA consolidated State plan to implement the Stronger Connections program. The fundamental requirements of Title IV, Part A also apply to these funds, including the supplement, not supplant, requirement (ESEA section 4110); the maintenance of effort requirement (ESEA section 8521); and the requirement to provide equitable services to private school students and personnel (ESEA section 8501 et seq.), as described further in Section E.
Learn more about the Title IV, Part A formula grant program.
SCG Annual Performance Report
What is the Stronger Connections Grant (SCG) Program Annual Performance Report (APR)?
The Stronger Connections Grant (SCG) Program Annual Performance Report (APR) is an information collection request for reporting the annual performance of the SCG program. Under the Education Department's General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR, Section 75.720) and consistent with assurance requirements, grantees are required to submit annual performance reports (APRs) and other information required by the Secretary.
For the SCG APR, the purpose of such information collection is two-fold:
- to determine how funds, awarded competitively to high-need LEAs, are being used for allowable activities, and
- to understand how SEAs are implementing the SCG grant requirements.
This will enable the Department to provide effective technical assistance, monitoring, and support to States.
If you have questions related to the APR, please contact OESE.SCG@ed.gov.
SCG APR: School Year 2022-23
OMB Approved Forms:
Stronger Connection Grant Annual Performance Report (MS Word) (79.4K)
Other Resources SY 2022-23:
SY2223 SCG FAQ (PDF)
SY2223 SCG Submission Guide (PDF)
SY2223 SCG APR Business Rules Single Inventory v.1 (Excel)
| Initial Open | Initial Close | Resubmission Open | Resubmission Close | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SCG APR | 6/26/2024 | 8/7/2024, 5pm (ET) | 9/11/2024 | 10/2/2024, 5pm (ET) |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Please click on the following link to view the FAQs: Bipartisan Safer Communities Act Stronger Connections Frequently Asked Questions — Nonregulatory Guidance (October 19, 2023)
Building Stronger Connections Webinar Series
- "Building Stronger Connections: Engaging Families and Communities" - November 30, 2022
- "Building Stronger Connections: Selecting High-Quality Evidence-based Strategies for Safe, Supportive and Healthy Schools Part I" - December 14, 2022
- "Building Stronger Connections: Selecting High-Quality Evidence-based Strategies for Safe, Supportive and Healthy Schools Part II" - January 18, 2023
- "Building Stronger Connections: Professional Development and Training for All School Staff on Strategies for Safe, Supportive and Healthy Schools" - January 26, 2023
- "Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers: Selecting Evidence-based Strategies to Support Adolescents in Middle and High School" - April 26, 2023
- "School Based Mental Health Services Grant Program (SMBH) and Mental Health Services Professional Demonstration Grant Program (MHSP) - May 15, 2023
Resource Documents
- Stronger Connections Grant Program Dear Colleague Letter
- Stronger Connections Grant Program Allocations
- Stronger Connections Grant Program GAN Assurances
- Stronger Connections Grant Program GAN Assurances (Outlying Areas, Hawaii, Puerto Rico)
- Stronger Connections Grant Program Requested Information Template
Purpose
On June 25, 2022, President Biden signed the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA), which provides $1 billion in funding to State educational agencies (SEAs) to be distributed under Title IV, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA). The BSCA specifies that SEAs must make competitive subgrants to high-need local educational agencies (LEAs), as determined by the SEA, for activities to support safe and healthy students under section 4108 of the ESEA. The Department has designated BSCA section 4108 funds as the Stronger Connections grant program to distinguish it from the regular Title IV, Part A, Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grants program, which funds a broader range of activities, including activities to support well-rounded educational opportunities and the effective use of educational technology. The Department announced allocations and awarded Stronger Connections funds to SEAs on September 15, 2022.
How does Stronger Connections relate to the existing Title IV, Part A formula grant program?
Congress provided funding in the BSCA for the Stronger Connections grant program under Title IV, Part A of the ESEA, but established some requirements unique from the typical Title IV, Part A program. Under Stronger Connections, an SEA must make subgrant awards on a competitive basis to high-need LEAs, as determined by the SEA,a and funds may be used only for activities authorized under section 4108 of the ESEA. Funds allocated under the program must be administered and tracked separately from an SEA’s or LEA’s regular Title IV, Part A formula allocation.
Because each SEA included Title IV, Part A in its approved ESEA consolidated State plan, an SEA is not required to amend its ESEA consolidated State plan to implement the Stronger Connections program. The fundamental requirements of Title IV, Part A also apply to these funds, including the supplement, not supplant, requirement (ESEA section 4110); the maintenance of effort requirement (ESEA section 8521); and the requirement to provide equitable services to private school students and personnel (ESEA section 8501 et seq.), as described further in Section E.
Learn more about the Title IV, Part A formula grant program.
SCG Annual Performance Report
What is the Stronger Connections Grant (SCG) Program Annual Performance Report (APR)?
The Stronger Connections Grant (SCG) Program Annual Performance Report (APR) is an information collection request for reporting the annual performance of the SCG program. Under the Education Department's General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR, Section 75.720) and consistent with assurance requirements, grantees are required to submit annual performance reports (APRs) and other information required by the Secretary.
For the SCG APR, the purpose of such information collection is two-fold:
- to determine how funds, awarded competitively to high-need LEAs, are being used for allowable activities, and
- to understand how SEAs are implementing the SCG grant requirements.
This will enable the Department to provide effective technical assistance, monitoring, and support to States.
If you have questions related to the APR, please contact OESE.SCG@ed.gov.
SCG APR: School Year 2022-23
OMB Approved Forms:
Stronger Connection Grant Annual Performance Report (MS Word) (79.4K)
Other Resources SY 2022-23:
SY2223 SCG FAQ (PDF)
SY2223 SCG Submission Guide (PDF)
SY2223 SCG APR Business Rules Single Inventory v.1 (Excel)
| Initial Open | Initial Close | Resubmission Open | Resubmission Close | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SCG APR | 6/26/2024 | 8/7/2024, 5pm (ET) | 9/11/2024 | 10/2/2024, 5pm (ET) |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Please click on the following link to view the FAQs: Bipartisan Safer Communities Act Stronger Connections Frequently Asked Questions — Nonregulatory Guidance (October 19, 2023)
Building Stronger Connections Webinar Series
- "Building Stronger Connections: Engaging Families and Communities" - November 30, 2022
- "Building Stronger Connections: Selecting High-Quality Evidence-based Strategies for Safe, Supportive and Healthy Schools Part I" - December 14, 2022
- "Building Stronger Connections: Selecting High-Quality Evidence-based Strategies for Safe, Supportive and Healthy Schools Part II" - January 18, 2023
- "Building Stronger Connections: Professional Development and Training for All School Staff on Strategies for Safe, Supportive and Healthy Schools" - January 26, 2023
- "Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers: Selecting Evidence-based Strategies to Support Adolescents in Middle and High School" - April 26, 2023
- "School Based Mental Health Services Grant Program (SMBH) and Mental Health Services Professional Demonstration Grant Program (MHSP) - May 15, 2023
Resource Documents
- Stronger Connections Grant Program Dear Colleague Letter
- Stronger Connections Grant Program Allocations
- Stronger Connections Grant Program GAN Assurances
- Stronger Connections Grant Program GAN Assurances (Outlying Areas, Hawaii, Puerto Rico)
- Stronger Connections Grant Program Requested Information Template