Georgia is working to ensure its schools are safe and supportive. This page features school climate information for Georgia, including a list of grants the State and its communities have received; State discipline and bullying policies; data for a selection of indicators; and related news articles.
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 the T4PA Center website.
In 2014, the Georgia Department of Education (GADOE) received a Project AWARE grant through the Now is the Time initiative. GADOE used this 5-year grant to 1) train adults on responding to mental health issues when interacting with school-aged youth, 2) connect children, youth and families who required support to appropriate mental health services, and 3) implement Mental Health First Aid and Youth Mental Health First Aid in State and local training programs. For more information about this grant, go to: https://www.samhsa.gov/grants/grant-announcements/sm-21-006.
Local Educational Agency and District Grant Program
In 2023, Savannah Chatham County Public School System 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://oese.ed.gov/offices/office-of-formula-grants/safe-supportive-schools/project-prevent-grant-program/.
In 2022, Dougherty School System 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.
The Jasper County Board of Education 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, Calhoun City Board of Education, Dougherty County School System, and Dekalb County Board of Education received a School-Based Mental Health Services grant. These school systems 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
Institution of Higher of Education
In 2022, Georgia State University Research Foundation, Inc. and the University of Georgia Research Foundation, Inc. received a Mental Health Service Professional Demonstration grant. These universities are using this 5-year grant to support and demonstrate innovative partnerships to train school-based mental health services providers for employment in schools and local educational agencies (LEAs). The goal of this program is to expand the pipeline of high-quality, trained providers to address the shortages of mental health service professionals in schools served by high-need LEAs. To find out more about this program, visit: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/11/28/2022-25824/applications-for-new-awards-mental-health-service-professional-demonstration-grant-program
In 2023, the University of Georgia Research Foundation, Inc., Georgia State University Research Foundation, Inc., and Kennesaw State University received a Mental Health Service Professional Demonstration grant. These universities are using this 5-year grant to support and demonstrate innovative partnerships to train school-based mental health services providers for employment in schools and local educational agencies (LEAs). The goal of this program is to expand the pipeline of high-quality, trained providers to address the shortages of mental health service professionals in schools served by high-need LEAs. To find out more about this program, visit: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/11/28/2022-25824/applications-for-new-awards-mental-health-service-professional-demonstration-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
This state did not participate in data collection in 2015 and 2017. This state did not have data for this indicator in 2021.
Citation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021 High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data. Available at https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/data/yrbs/results.htm. Accessed on July 20, 2023.
Indicator 1: Threatened or Injured with a Weapon on School Property | ||
---|---|---|
Year | Georgia | US |
2009 | 8.2 | 7.7 |
2011 | 11.7 | 7.4 |
2013 | 7.2 | 6.9 |
2019 | 6.0 | 7.4 |
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 participate in data collection in 2015 and 2017. This state did not have data for this indicator in 2021.
Citation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021 High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data. Available at https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/data/yrbs/results.htm. Accessed on July 20, 2023.
Indicator 2: Involved in Physical Fight on School Property | ||
---|---|---|
Year | Georgia | US |
2009 | 11.7 | 11.1 |
2011 | 11.9 | 12.0 |
2013 | 10.3 | 8.1 |
2019 | 9.8 | 8.0 |
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
This state did not participate in data collection in 2015 or 2017. This state did not have data for this indicator in 2019.
Citation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021 High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data. Available at https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/data/yrbs/results.htm. Accessed on July 20, 2023.
Indicator 3: Offered, Sold or Given Illegal Drugs on School Property | ||
---|---|---|
Year | Georgia | US |
2009 | 32.9 | 22.7 |
2011 | 32.1 | 25.6 |
2013 | 26.5 | 22.1 |
2021 | 26.5 | 22.2 |
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
This state did not participate in data collection in 2015 and 2017. This state did not have data for this indicator in 2021.
Citation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021 High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data. Available at https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/data/yrbs/results.htm. Accessed on July 20, 2023.
Indicator 4: Seriously Considered Attempting Suicide | ||
---|---|---|
Year | Georgia | US |
2009 | 13.7 | 15.8 |
2011 | 15.5 | 15.8 |
2013 | 14.3 | 17.0 |
2019 | 18.5 | 18.8 |
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 participate in data collection in 2015 and 2017. This state did not have data for this indicator in 2009 or 2021.
Citation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021 High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data. Available at https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/data/yrbs/results.htm. Accessed on July 20, 2023.
Indicator 5: Bullied On School Property | ||
---|---|---|
Year | Georgia | US |
2011 | 19.1 | 20.1 |
2013 | 19.5 | 19.6 |
2019 | 14.5 | 19.5 |