Stronger Connections

Bipartisan Safer Communities Act

The BSCA was signed into law by President Biden in 2022. This legislation expands vital mental health services and provides additional support for States and districts to design and enhance initiatives that will promote safer, more inclusive, and positive school environments for all students, educators, and school staff. For more information, please visit the United States Department of Education's webpage on the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.

There is also a Stronger Connections Grant Program one-page informational PDF available to download by clicking the button below.

View Information Sheet

Texas Center for Student Supports

Our vision is to create and sustain a Texas Center for Student Supports (TCSS) that partners with districts across the state to support the nonacademic needs of students by providing safe, inclusive, and supportive leaning environments which will result in improved academic achievement as well as mental, behavioral, emotional, and physical health and well-being of students. The TCSS was established through a competitive grant that was awarded to ESC Region 16 Amarillo.

Connect with the TCSS by emailing info@texascss.net.

Stronger Connections Grant Program

98 public school districts and open enrollment charter school systems have been awarded the 2024-2026 Stronger Connections Grant (SCG). The SCG will provide awardees with access to:

a suite of trainings and supports from the Texas Center for Student Supports,
a local-level case management tool for identifying struggling students and tracking their progress through tailored services/supports, and
funds that support mental health personnel and contracted providers as well as additional services and tools to address specific, identified needs.