Bouquet: America’s Safe Schools Week, which starts Monday and extends through Friday, aims to raise awareness among schools and communities about creating safe and positive educational environments for students and staff.

“Improving the health, safety, and wellness of students is Goal 3 in Michigan’s Top 10 Strategic Education Plan,” State Superintendent Dr. Michael F. Rice said. “Local and intermediate school districts, law enforcement officials, mental health agencies and practitioners, and state officials work together to keep our children and staff safe in school. The Michigan Department of Education and State Board of Education continue to advocate for school safety and mental health support that is sufficient, recurring, and predictable for school districts.”

Rice noted that much progress had been made on funding for children’s mental health. Prior to fiscal year 2019, there was nothing in the state school aid act for children’s mental health. In fiscal year 2019, the first state school aid act funding for children’s mental health — $31.3 million — was appropriated by the state legislature. This amount grew to $492 million last year for children’s mental health and school safety, $328 million of which was nonrecurring Section 31aa funding.

This year, the state school aid act includes $107.8 million for recurring Section 31n funding for intermediate school district social workers that support local school district students and staff; $25 million for recurring Section 31aa per pupil funding to local school districts to support children’s mental health and school safety; and $125 million for nonrecurring Section 31aa per pupil funding to local school districts for the same purposes. This last funding was added in a recent budget supplemental after the state superintendent, State Board of Education and advocacy groups lobbied against the initial fiscal year 2025 budget for children’s mental health and school safety.

MDE encourages schools to take opportunities during the week to schedule safety drills.

“Safe Schools Week is a good reminder for school leaders and staff to discuss internal processes that benefit students’ safety and well-being on both a safety and mental health level,” MDE Deputy Superintendent Dr. Diane Golzynski said.

For resources on school safety, go to the MDE School Safety webpage, https://www.michigan.gov/mde/services/health-safety/topics/school-safety. For resources about school mental health, go to MDE’s Mental Health webpage, https://www.michigan.gov/mde/services/health-safety/mental-health.