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Schools Can Apply Now for New School Safety Grant Program

In June, state lawmakers approved the creation of a new School Safety and Security Grant Program to assist school districts in their mission to provide a safe learning environment for children. The program will provide $52.5 million in grants to school districts, intermediate units, area vocational-technical schools, charter schools and private residential rehabilitative institutions throughout the state for a wide variety of projects to improve school safety.

In order to be eligible to receive a grant through the new program, school entities must submit an application no later than October 12, 2018. I strongly urge all local school entities to apply for funding for this new program as soon as possible.

Applications may be revised by the applicant as additional information becomes available, but school entities must apply for the program prior to the October 12 deadline to be considered for a grant. Successful school district applicants will receive a minimum grant of $25,000, and additional funding will be available on a competitive basis for school safety projects.

Eligible uses of grants include:

• safety and security assessments that meet best practices criteria.
• conflict resolution or dispute management.
• schoolwide positive behavior support.
• school-based diversion programs.
• peer helper programs.
• risk assessment and violence prevention curricula.
• classroom management.
• student codes of conduct.
• training to undertake a districtwide assessment of risk factors.
• development and implementation of research-based violence prevention programs.
• districtwide school safety, emergency preparedness and all-hazards plans.
• security planning and purchase of security-related technology.
• institution of student, staff and visitor identification systems.
• provision of specialized staff and student training programs.
• counseling services for students.
• a system for the management of student discipline.
• staff training programs in the use of positive behavior supports, de-escalation techniques and appropriate responses to student behavior that may require immediate intervention.
• costs associated with the training and compensation of school resource officers and school police officers.
• costs associated with the training and compensation of certified counselors, social workers, and school psychologists.
• administration of evidence-based screenings for adverse childhood experiences.
• trauma-informed approaches to education.
• programs designed to reduce community violence.

Additional information about the grant application process is available online at the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency’s website at www.pccd.pa.gov under the School Safety and Security heading. Please feel free to contact me if you have additional questions or concerns.

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