$7,500 in Grant Funding Awarded for ‘BICS Bear Den’ Behavior Program

KLEIN, TEXAS – The Klein ISD Behavior Intervention & Character Support (BICS) program has received a $7,500 grant from the Klein ISD Education Foundation (KEF). 

This grant will transform a currently vacant room at the Kaufman Alternative Education Center into a BICS Bear Den. The den's purpose is to provide a supportive environment for all BICS students, helping them develop coping skills in a potentially over-stimulating environment. This will enable them to participate more effectively in the classroom with their peers.

Unlike traditional calming rooms, the BICS Bear Den will be a unique blend of current teaching styles. It will provide a hands-on environment for learning academic objectives, social skills, and play/leisure skills while also serving as an outlet for behavior modification. 

Generously sponsored by Huckabee, the $7,500 grant will allow students to attend the BICS Bear Den daily during a scheduled class visit. Teachers and paraprofessionals will then work with students on in-the-moment lessons on social skills to assist in decreasing unexpected and inappropriate behaviors such as aggression, elopement, and non-compliance, followed by opportunities to practice the skills. Students will be reinforced for showing those skills by being allowed to complete activities and use equipment in the BICS Bear Den.

The BICS Bear Den will support the Klein Family of Schools in measurable ways, as students who have accessed the BICS program can return the skills learned to their home campus. Once back on the home campus, the success of the BICS Bear Den will be apparent in students who are now better able to regulate their emotions, stay safe in-class learning, and exhibit Klein's five essential behavior standards.

“We are thrilled to award this innovative grant to the Klein ISD BICS Program where it will make such a difference for so many students,” KEF Director of Community Relations and Education Foundation Christy Spisak said. “We are grateful to our dedicated donors who support our efforts to bring these grants to life!”

This spring, the KEF Celebration Express distributed grants totaling $97,611. These grants will enrich the educational experiences of our students, supporting various innovative and engaging projects.

We sincerely thank all our grant sponsors who have made these initiatives possible. Your support plays a pivotal role in enhancing the educational journey of every Klein ISD student.

The Klein ISD Education Foundation accepts grant applications twice a year, encouraging, facilitating, and acknowledging creative projects that drive academic success for our Klein ISD students.