Congressman Gonzalez Encourages School Districts to Apply for School Safety Grants

WASHINGTON – Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) is encouraging eligible applicants to take advantage of school safety grants offered by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), the Office of Justice Programs (OJP), the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), and the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS). Available grants offer staff, faculty, and students threat-risk training and resources to help implement new security protocols, both on and off school campuses.

This spring, Congressman Gonzalez co-sponsored H.R. 4909, the Students, Teachers, and Officers Preventing (STOP) School Violence Act of 2018, which authorized funding to improve school security. The legislation authorized $750 million over 10 years to the Bureau of Justice Assistance for grants that support evidence-based school safety programs across the country.

"The safety and well-being of students and teachers in the 15th District of Texas is one of my top priorities," Congressman Gonzalez said. "With these new federal grant opportunities, we can work to make America's classrooms free from harm."

The DOJ, Office of Justice Programs (OJP), and Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) will accept applications for two grants until 11:59 p.m. ET on Monday, July 23, 2018:

The BJA STOP School Violence Threat Assessment and Technology Reporting Program

This program supports state, local, territorial, and tribal jurisdictions' efforts to implement threat assessment teams and technology for anonymously reporting suspicious activity within schools. Eligible applicants can find additional information here.

The BJA STOP School Violence Prevention and Mental Health Training Program

This program assists state, local, and tribal jurisdictions in improving efforts to reduce violent crime through the creation of school safety training and mental health programs for school personnel and students as they relate to violence in schools. Eligible applicants can find additional information here.

Eligible applicants can register for BJA grants here.

The School Violence Prevention Program

The Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) is providing additional school security funding through the School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP). States, units of local government, and Indian tribes can apply for grants that may include the following:

• Coordination with local law enforcement
• Training for local law enforcement officers to prevent school violence against others and self
• Placement and use of metal detectors, locks, lighting, and other deterrent measures
• Acquisition and installation of technology for expedited notification of local law enforcement during an emergency
• Any other measure that, in the determination of the director of the COPS Office, may provide a significant improvement in security

Applicants will need to submit proposals by 7:59 p.m. ET on Monday, July 30, 2018. Eligible applicants can find additional information here.