Stronger Connections Grant

School culture is the accumulation of deep patterns of values, beliefs, and traditions that have developed over time. 

School climate is the quality and character of school life, including interpersonal relationships, teaching and learning practices, and organizational structures. 

A positive school climate is tied to high or improving attendance rates, test scores, promotion rates, and graduation rates. ¹⁰

School behavioral and mental health focuses on promoting well-being, preventing crises, and supporting students' emotional and behavioral growth. It includes creating a supportive environment, implementing policies, providing resources, and working with families and the community to address mental health needs.

Texas School Mental Health 

Maintaining well-being through health and fitness means building healthy habits for a balanced lifestyle. It involves caring for physical health, meeting basic needs, and giving students and staff the tools to stay healthy for life.

Texas has one of the highest rates of child food insecurity in the nation, at nearly 22%, or almost 1.6 million children.²

Supporting student well-being can lower health risks and boost academic success. Health education can prevent most cases of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and many cancers.

Student and staff safety means creating a supportive environment free from bullying, harassment, and discrimination. It includes access to resources, tools for handling challenges, and promoting self-care and resilience. A safe school fosters trust, well-being, and positive relationships for learning and growth.

David's Legacy Foundation

988 Lifeline

Digital Safety

 Supportive Discipline is a continuum of proactive and responsive discipline strategies that reinforce the school’s focus on growth, learning, and long-term changes in behavior. Supportive Discipline consists of both positive reinforcement and responsive consequences with a corrective teaching component when necessary. Supportive discipline assists schools in creating an environment where all stakeholders are safe, and students are held accountable and receive lifelong benefits.

In Texas, students are chronically absent if they miss 10% (18 days) of the school year. Identifying the reasons behind absences helps schools support students and their families more effectively.