The Iowa Department of Education (IDOE) will partner with University of Northern Iowa’s (UNI) Center for Violence Prevention (CVP), the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH), and the Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) to provide:
 (1) training for school personnel to respond to threats of violence and prevent violence on campuses, (2) training for school officials to respond to mental health crises, and (3) education and awareness for students with the intent to prevent violence.

The STOP School Violence Iowa Grant seeks to work with  up to 42 Iowa secondary schools across multiple AEAs during the grant period. As a result  approximately 168 school personnel and community partners will be trained in the STOP Grant components consisting of a training in the Spectrum of Prevention Framework, the Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP) model and Youth Mental Health First Aid program. Successful school applicants will be clustered into groups, or cohorts, of seven schools. Each cohort will have 5-6 representatives from each school grouped in the cohort. The cohorts will be invited to participate in the training components associated with the STOP School Violence Iowa Grant. As a result of this training it is anticipated that approximately 2,500 secondary student leaders from all participating schools will be recruited by their respective schools to serve as student mentors in their buildings. Through the STOP Violence Iowa Grant the student mentors will receive training in the MVP model and on mental health awareness through Student Leadership Summits. Cohorts will be organized and assembled as follows: three in 2018-19, two in 2019-20, and one in 2020-21.  

The criteria by which secondary buildings will be chosen is listed below. The grant is available to secondary schools that include grades 9-12. (Secondary schools can include lower grades, i.e. 7-12 but must include grades 11-12 to be eligible.) The Department will calculate specific data elements that will also be included in the selection process. Criteria includes:

COMMITMENT AND NEED (total of 110 points):
1. Commitment of the building leadership team (60 points);
2. Demonstration of need (40 points);
3. Sustainability (10 points)

SPECIFIC DATA CRITERIA (70 Points)
The Department will calculate the following:
1. Suspension/Expulsion data.  Points will be weighted according to the extent of need in this area. (20 points)
2. Bullying incident data. Points are weighted according to the extent of need in this area. (20 points)
3. Overall Conditions for Learning data (10 points) with a specific focus on Emotional Safety (10 points) and Adult-Student relationships (10 points), points are weighted according to extent of need in this area.

EVERY STUDENT SUCCEEDS ACT (ESSA) DESIGNATION STATUS (10 or 15 points)
Priority will be given to schools designated in need of either Targeted or Comprehensive Supports and Improvement. The Department will assign the points accordingly.
1. School designated in need of Targeted Supports and Improvement (10 points)
2. School designated in need of Comprehensive Supports and Improvement (15 points)