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

  • California School District Completes Elementary School Modernization

    The San Diego Unified School District in San Diego, Calif., recently held a ribbon-cutting for a whole-site modernization of Pacific Beach Elementary School, according to local news. The school first opened with one building in 1930 and added six more between 1938 and 1957.

  • Kimball International Releases Curated Design Support Program

    Commercial furnishings company Kimball International recently announced the launch of a new end-to-end design support program, DesignSuite. According to a news release, its goal is to guide architecture & design professionals and dealer partners through the process from vision to specification.

  • Academy of Classical Education Breaks Ground in Louisiana

    Charter Schools USA (CSUSA) recently announced the groundbreaking of a new public charter school in Covington, La., according to a news release. The Academy of Classical Education at Covington will enroll students in grades K–8 and is scheduled for completion in August 2026, just in time for the new school year.

  • Northeastern University Breaks Ground on New Housing Community

    Northeastern University recently announced the groundbreaking of a new student housing community on its campus in Boston, Mass., according to a news release. The university is partnering with American Campus Communities (ACC) for development of the project, which will have the capacity for 1,200 students and has a scheduled completion date of fall 2028.