Kansas and 11 other states will share $38.8 million over the next four years to make schools safer and improve academic success.

The Kansas Department of Education says it will use $9.4 million to measure safety at school buildings and improve conditions where the need is greatest.

The goal is to create safe, drug-free environments at high-risk schools, while improving achievement.

Kansas officials say part of the process is developing a good system for measuring safety, based on a school’s academic climate and culture. The first year of the project will involve developing a tool for such measurements.