Colorado is trying to weed out the bullies from its schools.
The Colorado Department of Education is using surplus marijuana tax revenue to create anti-bullying programs in the state’s schools.
The CDE will award 50 schools grants of up to $40,000 per school each year to administer these programs, ABC affiliate KMGH-TV reports.
The programs implemented will employ evidence-based anti-bullying practices and will also teach families and communities strategies to deal with bullying, the grant’s description says.
“It’s more than just teachers doing lessons,” Dr. Adam Collins, bullying prevention and education grant coordinator for the CDE, told the TV station. “It’s about changing the culture of the school so that it’s a warm environment. So it’s somewhere that bullying can’t thrive.”
In November, Colorado voters chose to have the state keep the money made from marijuana sales taxes. The amount totaled $66 million, according to CNN Money.
The state is using the cash to support schools, law enforcement, drug education and other programs, reported USA Today.
Aurora, Colorado, for instance, used the $1.5 million it generated to help its homeless population.
Targeting bullying is another problem the state wants to tackle.
About 70 percent of students have reported seeing bullying at their schools, according to statistics gathered by Stopbullying.gov, which partners with government agencies such as Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services.
If you’re interested in applying for a grant, schools have until Oct. 21 to apply and winners will be announced on Dec. 30. Click here for more information.