Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Free Resources Available to Help Secure School Violence Protection Funding

Ed tech provider Bluum is offering a suite of free grant resources and consulting services to help school districts apply for funding from the COPS School Violence Protection Program, a grant opportunity from the United States Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services with awards totaling $73 million.

Available to all public school districts, public school boards, and public charter schools, the COPS SVVP grant will award up to $500,000 per recipient over a three-year period to provide up to 75% funding for the following school safety measures:

  • Coordination with law enforcement;
  • Training for local law enforcement officers to prevent student violence against others and self;
  • Metal detectors, locks, lighting, and other deterrent measures;
  • Technology for expedited notification of local law enforcement during an emergency; and
  • Any other measure that the COPS Office determines may provide a significant improvement in security.

Additional school safety measures are available through the Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) as part of the STOP School Violence Act of 2018:

  • Development and operation of anonymous reporting systems (such as hotlines, websites, and mobile apps);
  • Development and operation of a school threat assessment;
  • Specialized training for school officials in responding to mental health crises;
  • Training for school personnel and students to prevent student violence against others and self; and
  • Any other measure the BJA determines may provide a significant improvement in security.

Free grant resources provided by Bluum include:

"The SVPP grant program is a powerful opportunity to improve campus safety, but few busy administrators have the time and resources to take on a grant application of this size," said Emily Cook, vice president of education services at Bluum, in a statement. "We're excited to make this a lighter lift for them through our comprehensive support and personalized consultations that guide them through the application process as they work to ensure the safety and well-being of their students and staff."

Grant applications are due in two parts: Materials must be submitted via Grants.gov by June 11, 2024, and via JustGrants by June 17, 2024.

About the Author

Rhea Kelly is editor in chief for Campus Technology, THE Journal, and Spaces4Learning. She can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Esports are Growing in Popularity

    Video games and esports are a popular social hobby, and it’s one that’s accessible to a wide variety of physical ability levels. Some esport student-athletes have started to earn scholarship opportunities, and high schools are beginning to form teams equipped with the same degree of resources as their physical sports teams. However, the two have very different needs.

  • Phoenix High School Completes First Phase of Campus Renovations

    Metro Tech High School, part of the Phoenix Union High School District (PXU) in Phoenix, Ariz., recently announced the completion of the first stage of a campus renovation project, according to a news release. The school reopened a series of public-facing business operations spaces including credit union, daycare, floral, cosmetology, and culinary services. It also includes new CTE learning spaces for the school’s nursing assistant, pharmacy, and sports medicine programs.

  • University of Rochester to Break Ground on New Student Life Center

    The University of Rochester in Rochester, N.Y., recently began construction on a new Student Life building, according to a news release. The first floor will contain campus-wide gathering, program, and rehearsal space; the second floor will play home to the Greenbaum Center for Jewish Life.

  • DLR Group Announces New Mid-Atlantic Higher Education Leader

    Integrated design firm DLR Group recently announced that it has promoted Principal Shawn Gaither, AIA, LEED AP, to the role of higher education leader in the Mid-Atlantic, according to a news release. Gaither has served with the firm for more than 20 years, most recently as the national higher education business development leader.