Kentucky School District Awarded More Than $138,000 for Recovery Efforts Following School Shooting

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos announced today that Marshall County School District (MCSD) in Kentucky has been awarded a Project School Emergency Response to Violence (SERV) grant totaling $138,213. This grant will support the ongoing recovery efforts following the Jan. 23, 2018 shooting at Marshall County High School (MCHS) that took the lives of two students and injured 15 others.

"This grant is part of our ongoing commitment to help the Marshall County community recover and ensure its students, educators and parents are supported," said Secretary DeVos. "My work on the Federal Commission on School Safety has focused and continues to focus on recognizing proven solutions to prevent these tragedies and to ensure all our schools are safe places of learning."

Marshall County School District received an Immediate Services grant to provide emergency, short-term assistance. According to education officials in Kentucky, these funds will be used to hire additional alternative school instructors, an additional homebound instructor and an aide to assist counseling staff, as well as compensate bus and custodial staff for the extra services they will provide.

"We are grateful to Secretary DeVos and the U.S. Department of Education for these grant funds that will support the Marshall County community as they continue to heal," said Gov. Matt Bevin. "Following the heartbreaking events of Jan. 23, West Kentuckians showcased to the world their exceptional strength, faith and resiliency. Our Commonwealth continues to stand united with the students, educators and families of MCHS, as we utilize every potential resource available to move forward together."

Secretary DeVos and Department officials will continue to be in contact with state and local education officials in Kentucky to ensure their needs are being met throughout their recovery period.

Featured

  • Indiana University Launches Capital Campus in D.C.

    Indiana University recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new IU Capital Campus in Washington, D.C., according to university news. The eight-story facility will provide a central hub for the university’s existing programs and business operations based in D.C., uniting them under one roof and providing the opportunity to expand.

  • S4L Announces 2026 Education Design Showcase Winners

    Spaces4Learning is thrilled to announce the winners of the 2026 Education Design Showcase! Now in its 27th year, the annual awards program honors innovative solutions in planning, design, architecture, and construction across K–12 and higher education.

  • Campus Safety Requires Using Every Resource Available

    Across the U.S., school and campus leaders are facing a security landscape that has changed dramatically over the past decade. Incidents on school property have increased in recent years, with several consecutive years setting record totals. According to analysis of data by CNN, dozens of shootings now occur on school grounds annually across K-12 and higher education environments.

  • Phoenix School District Breaks Ground on New Prep Academy

    The Creighton Elementary School District near Phoenix, Ariz., recently broke ground on a campus replacement for Biltmore Preparatory Academy, according to a news release. The new space will allow the school to expand its enrollment by 50 percent for K–8 students and accommodate modern, collaborative learning styles.