Grant to bolster safe and supportive learning

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A certified health education teacher will support the public schools’ integrated health literacy program. The position, based at Pocomoke and Snow Hill middle schools will support outreach efforts, including initiatives by local partners, to target declining student health data measures.

A certified music and movement teacher will be hired at Pocomoke Elementary School to increase access to high-quality instruction. The teacher will support students’ physical health, well-being, and motor skill development, as measured by a kindergarten readiness assessment.

Two pupil personnel workers will be added to the office of Student, Family, and Community Connections. The workers have become not only integral components of the school system’s crisis management processes, but key factors in increasing family engagement. The workers will support schools during improvement planning and offer case management and wraparound services for students and families. An early childhood education coach will support enhancement through the implementation of play-based learning strategies to increase rigor during students’ early learning years. The grant also provides for services in the form of sensory integration training for school system occupational therapists, as well as contracted services for board-certified behavior analysis for students who display extreme behavioral challenges.

The grant targets identified programming inequities in the school system’s Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports program, and will allow for the development of a teacher training cohort through playbased learning activities.

The Stronger Connections competitive grant program was available to school systems identified as “high need,” as defined by the following criteria:

• A high number or percentage of students living in poverty (e.g., at least 40 %).

• A high student-to-mental health professional ratio.

• High rates of chronic absenteeism, exclusionary discipline, referrals to the juvenile justice system, bullying/harassment, community and school violence, or substance abuse

• Places where students recently experienced a natural disaster or traumatic event.

Please note that all rainouts will be played the following day at