Family & Community Students & Families Student Support, Career & Education
Nutrition, Health and Safety

The Safe Schools Program for Gay & Lesbian Students

The Safe Schools Program for Gay and Lesbian Students was founded in 1993 by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Governor's Commission on Gay and Lesbian Youth. Responding to evidence indicating increased levels of suicidality and other risk behaviors among gay and lesbian students, the Safe Schools Program provides a range of services designed to help schools implement Chapter 76, Section 5 (the Massachusetts Student Anti-Discrimination Law), the State Board of Education's Recommendations on the Support and Safety of Gay and Lesbian Students, and the Access to Equal Educational Opportunity Regulations (603 CMR 26.00).

Grants

The Safe Schools Program provides state-administered, locally-controlled funding to schools and communities to support implementation of the Student Anti-Discrimination Law and the Board of Education's recommendations. (To find the most recent Request for Proposals for the grants listed below, visit Grants Management).

• Safe Schools Program for Gay & Lesbian Students Grants (Fund Code 194): Grants are awarded to districts to assist in developing violence prevention programs to enhance school safety for gay and lesbian students consistent with the Student Anti-Discrimination Law and the Board of Education's Recommendations on the Support and Safety of Gay and Lesbian Students. Priority is placed on grants that address the Board of Education Recommendation #3 and assist in developing and implementing programs that start or enhance Gay/Straight Alliances.

Resources

• "Gay/Straight Alliances: A Student Guide," a guide for students, advisors, and other school personnel on starting and/or maintaining a school-based student support group for gay, lesbian, and heterosexual students
• "OUTRIGHT: Your Right to Be," a brochure which describes students' rights in Massachusetts and lists resources for further information or support. Also available in Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Vietnamese, Khmer, Russian, and Haitian/Creole upon request.

Contact Information

Student Support, Career & Education Services
ssces@doe.mass.edu