The Sisters of Notre Dame have always responded to the needs of the times. Their longest and broadest area of focus has been on the education of children, especially those most in need. 

The current actions of the Department of Education, under its newly appointed Secretary of Education, will affect the safety and security of students and schools across the country. 

Background:

After the shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, Congress created funding for violence prevention programs. The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, a bipartisan law passed in 2022, included funding for school safety and mental health support. This act was a direct response to the horrific event that led to the deaths of 19 children and two adults. 

The funds were allocated in many ways:

• School Safety/Security: The bill included funding for various school safety initiatives (including safer doors and windows at sponsored schools), including training for school personnel and students, developing anonymous reporting systems for threats, and establishing school threat assessment and intervention teams.
• Mental Health Support: A significant portion of the funding was dedicated to school-based mental health support, recognizing the importance of addressing the emotional and psychological needs of students and staff following the tragedy. 
• Project AWARE: The bill also allocated funding for Project AWARE, a program aimed at enhancing mental health services for students.
• School-Based Violence Prevention: The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act included funding for programs that aim to prevent school violence, including training on how to identify and respond to potential threats.
• Community Violence Intervention: The funding also supports community violence intervention programs, which focus on reducing violence in communities through targeted interventions and partnerships.

On April 22, 2025, the Department of Education (DOE) cut approximately $1 billion worth of federal grants approved by Congress as a result of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.  

The DOE shared that the funding conflicts with Trump administration priorities, violates civil rights law and constitutes an "inappropriate use of federal funds." 

The funds that were cut primarily support state and higher education institutions to train mental health professionals who would provide mental health services in local schools.

This loss of funding will cut access to mental health services for the most vulnerable student communities.  

This loss will have significant impacts on the safety, security and mental health of students, teachers and staff in schools across the country. 

For more information  

https://www.npr.org/2025/05/01/nx-s1-5382582/trump-school-mental-health