Open the Books has revealed that federal grants designated for preventing school violence are being redirected to cover costs associated with illegal immigration. This development raises concerns about how funds intended for school safety are being utilized.
• A $1 million federal grant awarded in 2024 aims to combat school violence in Monroe County, Florida, but is focusing on issues linked to an increase in migrant families and juvenile crimes.
• The grant's abstract indicates a significant rise in school arrests (119% increase over two years) and highlights the difficulties local schools face in integrating migrant children.
• The Monroe County School District reports that teachers are struggling to meet the needs of immigrant students who often arrive with limited English proficiency, leading to behavioral and educational challenges.
• Instead of using funds to enhance physical security measures, the grant favors administrative solutions such as hiring bilingual staff and providing cultural competency training.
• Since 2018, the DOJ STOP School Violence Program has provided approximately $70-$85 million annually, but much of this funding has been utilized for supporting immigrant students rather than preventing school violence.
• Open the Books identified 15 grants totaling $13.5 million, explicitly aimed at supporting foreign students or their families, such as programs for English Language Learners (ELL) across various states.
The redirection of funds from essential safety measures to meet the needs of immigrant students raises questions about the priorities of the current administration and the intended use of school violence prevention grants.
https://openthebooks.substack.com/p/school-system-federal-grantees-say
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