Webinar: Stronger Connections Grant – LEA Competitive Application Process

ADE received $20M through the Federal Bipartisan Safer Communities Act for the Stronger Connections Grant program. States have been provided flexibility on how best to target those funds to support school safety needs through offering competitive grants to ‘High-Need LEAs’, as determined by the ADE. ADE’s grant will be focused on providing resources to ‘High-Need LEAs’ to hire, train and support effective School Safety Officers (SSOs) for their school(s). LEAs may apply for up to a maximum of $500,000 per proposed participating school included in the LEA’s application. ADE has reserved at least $19,785,580.65 to support LEA grants through this new grant program. The grant will allow for LEAs to hire and support new School Safety Officer personnel over three full school years (SY23-24, SY24-25, and SY25-26), with the grant ending September 30, 2026.

The LEA competitive application for the FY24 Stronger Connections grant opened on March 21, 2023, and the deadline for LEAs to submit their applications is May 2, 2023.

Arizona Department of Education (ADE) representatives will provide detailed  information regarding how LEAs can apply for these competitive funds, the requirements of the grant program, and will also take questions from attendees.

LEAs are encouraged to view grant resources and guidance (to include a recorded step-by-step LEA competitive application webinar) for this new competitive grant at www.azed.gov/StrongerConnections prior to attending this webinar, and bring questions they may have regarding the submission process. ADE will post these resources on the Stronger Connections Grant page ahead of the March 14th webinar.