Connecticut is working to ensure its schools are safe and supportive. This page features school climate information for Connecticut, including a list of grants the State and its communities have received; State discipline and bullying policies; data for a selection of indicators; related news articles; and grantee highlights demonstrating community efforts.
Grants Received
State Grant Programs
The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) was signed into law in 2015. The Student Support and Academic Enrichment (SSAE) program falls under ESSA, subpart 1 of Title IV, Part A. The SSAE program is intended to improve students’ academic achievement by increasing the capacity of State educational agencies (SEAs), local educational agencies (LEAs), and local communities to provide all students with access to a well-rounded education; improve school conditions for student learning; and improve the use of technology to improve the academic achievement and digital literacy of all students. States receive funds in the form of block grants and then fund local education agencies. To learn more, visit NCSSLE’s Title IV, Part A, SSAE Program page.
In 2014, the State of Connecticut Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services received a Healthy Transitions grant. This 5-year grant program was designed to help improve access to treatment and support services for youth and young adults, ages 16-25 years old, who were at high risk of developing a serious mental or behavioral health condition. The goal of the program was to expand services and supports that were culturally competent and youth guided, improve cross-system collaboration, and increase public awareness of available resources and strategies for identifying early indications of serious mental health and substance use conditions among youth and young adults. To learn more, about this grant go to: https://www.samhsa.gov/grants/grant-announcements/sm-14-017.
In 2014, the Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE) received a School Climate Transformation grant. With this 5-year grant, CSDE developed state-wide support systems and provided technical assistance to local educational agencies and schools on implementing evidence-based multi-tiered behavioral frameworks. The primary goal was to improve behavioral outcomes and learning conditions for all students. To find out more about this grant go to: https://www2.ed.gov/programs/schoolclimatesea/index.html.
Local Educational Agency and District Grant Programs
In 2022, Capitol Region Education Council received a Project Prevent grant. This district is using this 5-year grant to to increase their capacity to identify, assess, and serve students exposed to pervasive violence, helping to ensure that affected students are offered mental health services for trauma or anxiety; support conflict resolution programs; and implement other school–based violence prevention strategies in order to reduce the likelihood that these students will later commit violent acts. To find out more about this grant, visit: https://www2.ed.gov/programs/projectprevent/index.html.
In 2022, Capitol Region Education Council received a Project Prevent grant. This organization is using this 5-year grant to increase their capacity to identify, assess, and serve students exposed to pervasive violence, helping to ensure that affected students are offered mental health services for trauma or anxiety; support conflict resolution programs; and implement other school–based violence prevention strategies in order to reduce the likelihood that these students will later commit violent acts. To find out more about this grant, visit: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/08/19/2022-17932/applications-for-new-awards-project-prevent-grant-program.
In 2014, New London Public Schools received a Project Prevent grant. They used this 5-year grant to help their schools increase capacities for identifying, assessing, and serving students exposed to pervasive violence. The award helped ensure that affected students were offered mental health services for trauma or anxiety. The award also supported the implementation of other school-based violence prevention strategies that reduced the likelihood of future violence. To find out more about this grant, go to: https://www2.ed.gov/programs/projectprevent/index.html.
The Education Connection received funding through the U.S. Department of Education Elementary and Secondary School Counseling grant program. This 3-year grant helped schools expand the capacity of their school mental health services by 1) hiring qualified mental health professionals and 2) supporting parental involvement and school staff professional development to increase their capacities for collaborating with mental health community-based service providers. For more information about this grant, go to: http://www2.ed.gov/programs/elseccounseling/index.html.
In 2022, Central Region Educational Cooperative and EdAdvance received a School-Based Mental Health Services grant. These organizations are using this 5-year grant to increase the number of qualified (i.e., licensed, certified, well-trained, or credentialed, as defined in the notice inviting applications) mental health service providers that provide school-based mental health services to students in local educational agencies (LEAs) with demonstrated need. To find out more about this grant, visit: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/10/04/2022-21631/applications-for-new-awards-school-based-mental-health-services-grant-program
Indicator 1: Threatened or Injured with a Weapon on School Property
Indicator 1: Percentage of High School Students Who Reported They Had Been Threatened or Injured with a Weapon (For Example, a Gun, Knife, or Club) on School Property One or More Times During the 12 Months Before the Survey
Citation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2023 High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data. Available at https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/data/yrbs/results.htm. Accessed on November 20, 2024.
| Indicator 1: Threatened or Injured with a Weapon on School Property | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Connecticut | US |
| 2009 | 7.0 | 7.7 |
| 2011 | 6.8 | 7.4 |
| 2013 | 7.1 | 6.9 |
| 2015 | 6.7 | 6.0 |
| 2017 | 7.1 | 6.0 |
| 2019 | 6.8 | 7.4 |
| 2021 | 6.1 | 6.6 |
| 2023 | 7.2 | 9.0 |
Indicator 2: Involved in Physical Fight on School Property
Indicator 2: Percentage of High School Students Who Reported Having Been in a Physical Fight on School Property One or More Times During the 12 Months Before the Survey
This state did not have data for this indicator in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021 or 2023.
Citation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2023 High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data. Available at https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/data/yrbs/results.htm. Accessed on November 20, 2024.
| Indicator 2: Involved in Physical Fight on School Property | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Connecticut | US |
| 2009 | 9.6 | 11.1 |
| 2011 | 8.7 | 12.0 |
Indicator 3: Offered, Sold, or Given Illegal Drugs on School Property
Indicator 3: Percentage of High School Students Who Reported that they Were Offered, Sold, or Given an Illegal Drug by Someone on School Property During the 12 Months Before the Survey
Citation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2023 High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data. Available at https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/data/yrbs/results.htm. Accessed on November 20, 2024.
| Indicator 3: Offered, Sold, or Given Illegal Drugs on School Property | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Connecticut | US |
| 2009 | 28.9 | 22.7 |
| 2011 | 27.8 | 25.6 |
| 2013 | 27.1 | 22.1 |
| 2015 | 28.5 | 21.7 |
| 2017 | 28.6 | 19.8 |
| 2019 | 19.2 | 21.8 |
| 2021 | 14.1 | 13.9 |
Indicator 4: Seriously Considered Attempting Suicide
Indicator 4: Percentage of High School Students Who Reported They Seriously Considered Attempting Suicide During the 12 Months Before the Survey
Citation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2023 High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data. Available at https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/data/yrbs/results.htm. Accessed on November 20, 2024.
| Indicator 4: Seriously Considered Attempting Suicide | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Connecticut | US |
| 2009 | 14.1 | 15.8 |
| 2011 | 14.6 | 15.8 |
| 2013 | 14.5 | 17.0 |
| 2015 | 13.4 | 17.7 |
| 2017 | 13.5 | 17.2 |
| 2019 | 12.7 | 18.8 |
| 2021 | 7.0 | 22.2 |
| 2023 | 15.7 | 20.4 |
Indicator 5: Bullied On School Property
Indicator 5: Percentage of High School Students Who Reported Being Bullied On School Property During the 12 Months Before the Survey
This state did not have data for this indicator in 2009.
Citation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2023 High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data. Available at https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/data/yrbs/results.htm. Accessed on November 20, 2024.
| Indicator 5: Bullied On School Property | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Connecticut | US |
| 2011 | 21.6 | 20.1 |
| 2013 | 21.9 | 19.6 |
| 2015 | 18.6 | 20.2 |
| 2017 | 18.9 | 19.0 |
| 2019 | 17.8 | 19.5 |
| 2021 | 12.2 | 15.0 |
| 2023 | 18.0 | 19.2 |
Indicator 6: Reported That Their Mental Health Was Most Of The Time Or Always Not Good
Indicator 6: Percentage of High School Students Who Reported That Their Mental Health Was Most Of The Time Or Always Not Good (Poor Mental Health Includes Stress, Anxiety, and Depression) During the 30 Days Before the Survey
Data for this indicator are not available before 2021.
Citation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2023 High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data. Available at https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/data/yrbs/results.htm. Accessed on November 20, 2024.
| Indicator 6: Reported That Their Mental Health Was Most Of The Time Or Always Not Good | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Connecticut | US |
| 2021 | 28.5 | 29.3 |
| 2023 | 27.8 | 28.5 |