Virginia allocates $16.4 million for a competitive grant program to improve security infrastructure in high-need school divisions. The Stronger Connections grant program prioritizes divisions where students are at increased risk of violence and chronic absenteeism and with high student-to-staff ratios for counselors, psychologists and social workers. It also prioritizes rural schools and schools with a high percentage of economically disadvantaged students. School divisions will have until August 1 to apply.