The $1 Million School Kindness Grant

Punishment alone does not change culture — inspiration does. This grant focuses on prevention, not reaction. By recognizing schools that successfully reduce bullying and foster kindness, we create models others can learn from and replicate. Positive reinforcement encourages lasting change.

No. This initiative evaluates progress, culture, and effort, not just raw numbers. Schools serving challenging populations often demonstrate extraordinary leadership in kindness, inclusion, and student support. The goal is equity — not penalizing schools for circumstances beyond their control.

Selection would be based on multiple indicators, including incident reports, climate surveys, student and parent feedback, and independent assessments. No single metric determines success. Transparency and fairness are core principles of this proposal.

Safeguards will be built in. Independent audits, anonymous surveys, and cross-checks help ensure honesty. Schools that genuinely address bullying tend to increase reporting at first because students feel safer speaking up and that progress would be recognized, not punished.

Educators and communities know their students best. A one-size-fits-all mandate often misses real needs. This grant is built on trust — allowing schools to invest in counselors, playgrounds, programs, or facilities based on what will have the greatest positive impact locally.

Large, visible investments create meaningful, measurable change and set powerful examples statewide. These schools become proof that kindness pays — encouraging others to follow suit. The ripple effect extends far beyond three campuses.

Smaller grants often result in smaller impact. This initiative is designed to transform school culture, not fund short-term programs. Concentrated investment allows winning schools to make lasting improvements that others can replicate.

Academic success and kindness are not competing goals — they reinforce each other. Research consistently shows that students learn better in environments where they feel safe, respected, and supported. Kindness is a foundation for achievement, not a distraction from it.

This initiative strengthens preventative systems — counselors, peer support, safe spaces, and positive culture — which directly reduce bullying and improve mental health. It also sends a clear message to students: their well-being matters.

No. This is a practical investment with real dollars, real accountability, and real outcomes. It prioritizes mental health, student safety, and long-term cultural change — not slogans or temporary programs.

A powerful one:

• Kindness matters.
• Standing up for others matters.
• Creating a positive environment matters.

Students learn what we reward. This grant teaches that compassion and leadership are strengths.

Winning schools become models of best practice. Their programs, strategies, and results can be shared statewide, raising standards everywhere. When bullying declines, communities grow stronger — and everyone benefits.

Because kindness saves lives.
Because safe schools create confident learners.
Because compassion builds stronger communities.

Investing in kindness is investing in the future.

To make kindness the norm, not the exception. Over time, the goal is to reduce bullying statewide, improve mental health outcomes, and ensure every school is a place where students feel safe, valued, and empowered.