CENTEGIX | Education
Federal Funding Sources for School Safety Solutions
CENTEGIX | Education
Federal Funding Sources for School Safety Solutions
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Over the past several years, the US federal government has prioritized funding school safety solutions. Federal school safety grants provide funding for: security infrastructure updates, investments in new safety technologies, and security personnel.
These federal funding sources are earmarked to improve school safety planning and emergency response and school mental health resources. Districts pursuing this funding can increase their schools’ safety and provide resources for students’ and teachers’ well-being.
Federal funding sources districts should consider for school safety solutions include:
COPS School Violence Prevention Program
The 2018 Students, Teachers, and Officers Preventing School Violence (STOP School Violence Act) gave the Department of Justice’s Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) office the authority to award funding for security improvements to states, local governments, and federally recognized Indian tribes and their public agencies.
Eligible units of local government include counties, cities, and school districts. The program funds evidence-based school safety programs and technology to enhance security and reduce school violence.
The School Violence Prevention Program will provide up to 75% funding for the following school safety measures for K-12 schools:
Coordination with law enforcement.
Training for local law enforcement officers to prevent violence.
Metal detectors, locks, lighting, and other deterrent measures.
Technology for expedited notification of local law enforcement during an emergency.
Any other measure that the COPS Office determines may provide a significant security improvement.
BJA STOP School Violence Grant Program
The US Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) administers the STOP School Violence Grant Program. This program, initiated in 2018, seeks to improve school security by providing students and teachers with the tools they need to recognize, respond quickly to, and prevent acts of violence. The STOP School Violence Grant Program funds schools to develop and operate evidence-based school safety solutions, including threat assessment protocols and crisis intervention teams. Funds can also be used for new and improved safety technology and school security infrastructure.
Eligible applicants include:
State and local governments, including city, township, and county governments
Independent school districts
Tribal governments
Specific nonprofit organizations
Private, public, and state-controlled higher education institutions
Units of local government
BJA’s section of the STOP School Violence Act of 2018 targets several school safety measures for funding:
Development and operation of anonymous reporting technology. These include hotlines, websites, digital apps, and other means by which threats of school violence can be reported.
Development and operation of a school threat assessment as well as convening a multidisciplinary team of multiple stakeholders to create an evidence-based assessment.
Specialized training for school officials in responding to mental health crises and staff training on topics including bullying, social-emotional learning, and suicide prevention.
Training for school personnel and students to prevent student violence against others and self.
Hiring support personnel whose expertise directly supports school violence prevention.
Any other measure the BJA determines may provide a significant security improvement.
Title I, Part A
Title I, Part A’s purpose is to provide all children with a fair, equitable, and high-quality education, and to close educational achievement gaps. Title I, Part A provides federal funding resources to schools with high numbers or high percentages of students from low-income families. The grant supports schools to ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.
Schoolwide Program (SWP) schools may use the funds for school safety if aligned with the school’s comprehensive plan. Schools must conduct a comprehensive needs assessment and develop a schoolwide plan aligned with Title I goals to include school safety.
Title IV, Part A
The Every Student Succeeds Act includes Title IV, Part A. These funds increase the capacity of states and local education agencies to provide all students with a well-rounded education, improve learning conditions in schools, and invest in technology to enhance academic achievement and digital literacy. A minimum of 20% of Title IV, Part A funds must be spent on school safety, student health, or other initiatives that fall under the “Safe and Healthy Students” category. Title II, Part A funding can be transferred into Title IV, Part A, allowing those funds to be used for school safety.
IDEA
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) supports early intervention and special education services for infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities and their families. The CENTEGIX Safety Platform™ aligns with the goals of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) by providing technology that enhances emergency preparedness and response for students with disabilities. The
platform supports IEP implementation by enabling immediate, accessible communication during behavioral or medical incidents, ensuring that students with disabilities receive timely, appropriate support. These inclusive safety measures benefit the broader school population while
fulfilling IDEA’s commitment to equitable, supportive learning environments.
Nonprofit Security Grant Program
Administered by FEMA to enhance the physical security of nonprofit organizations at high risk of terrorist attacks or extremist violence. Funds can be used for physical security enhancements. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) organizations and those described under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, particularly those considered high-risk. Public schools are not eligible. Nonprofits must apply through their State Administrative Agency (SAA) and cannot apply directly to FEMA.
State Homeland Security Grant Program
Administered by FEMA, the SHSP is part of the broader Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP). It provides funding to state, local, tribal, and territorial governments to enhance their ability to prevent, protect against, respond to, and recover from terrorist attacks and other emergencies. You must apply through your State Administrative Agency (SAA) and cannot apply directly to FEMA. Not all states permit schools to apply, so check with your SAA for more details. Funds are allocated based on risk assessments and the effectiveness of proposed initiatives. Key focus areas include:
- Planning: Developing emergency operations plans and protocols.
- Equipment acquisition: Procuring necessary equipment to support emergency preparedness and response.
- Training and exercises: Conducting training programs and simulation exercises for emergency personnel.
OJJDP Enhancing School Capacity to Address Youth Violence Grant
The Office of Justice and Juvenile Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) will fund the Enhancing School Capacity to Address Youth Violence grant program. This program supports targeted, evidence-based prevention and intervention programs to address youth violence in schools. The program’s goals are to reduce the incidence of school violence through improved school safety and climate and to prevent youth violence, delinquency, and victimization in the targeted community.
FEMA Targeted Violence & Terrorism Prevention
Administered by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the TVTP Grant Program funds evidence-based approaches to prevent acts of targeted violence in communities, including schools. This program supports K-12 schools working with community partners to develop proactive strategies that reduce the risk of school-based violence.
Eligible uses include:
- Behavioral threat assessment training and implementation
- Development of multidisciplinary intervention teams
- Community engagement and education on violence prevention
- Technology that facilitates early detection and rapid response to threats
TVTP grants are designed to supplement existing school safety efforts by focusing on early intervention and long-term violence prevention strategies.
Stronger Connections Grant Program
The 2022 Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA) provides historic funding to support state and local education agencies and schools to establish safe, healthy, and supportive learning environments. The BCSA expands vital mental health services and provides support for states and districts to design and enhance initiatives that will promote safer, more inclusive, and positive school environments for all students, educators, and school staff.
The Stronger Connections Grant Program is one component of the BSCA. This program seeks to capitalize on the strength of local communities and leaders to improve schools’ climates and student achievement. The Stronger Connections Grant Program utilizes a portion of the $1 billion in BSCA funding for state education agencies (SEAs) to competitively award subgrants to high-need local education agencies (LEAs). The program seeks to award LEAs that employ evidence-based approaches to create comprehensive plans for creating safe, supportive, and healthy schools. As such, security measures, wellness initiatives, safety planning, and associated training may all be eligible for funding.
Initiatives that may receive funding include:
Safety assessments and corresponding safety plans and strategies
Efforts to support a positive school culture and climate, including positive behavioral interventions and student wellness support
Programs to prevent and respond to acts of bullying, violence, and hate
Programs to support staff well-being
Training to improve trauma-informed practices
The Stronger Connections Grant Program mandates that SEAs and LEAs engage community members and local partners to identify areas for which they will seek funding. Because the program aims to assist schools and students most in need of services, LEAs applying for funding should seek input from a diverse set of community members and from communities that face systemic barriers.
ESSER Funds
Federal COVID-19 relief funding through the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) programs ended on January 31, 2025. Schools may no longer obligate or spend ESSER funds for new purchases.
Greenlights Grant Initiative
The Greenlights Grant Initiative is focused on raising awareness about school safety grants, equipping school districts with resources and tools for successful applications, and ensuring continuous and more equitable federal funding for school safety.
Grant writing services are fully funded by the initiative for the following:
- High need, low-capacity districts (as identified by the Greenlights Grant Initiative).
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- Factors used to identify these districts are high poverty rates, student-to-mental health professional ratio, school districts in which students have recently experienced a natural disaster or traumatic event, and geographic diversity.
- Have not applied for federal grants previously.
- Need grant writing support NOW.
The CENTEGIX Safety Platform™
A worthy investment to keep your staff and students safe.
Many of these federal funding resources award grant money to agencies and schools investing in new technologies that nurture a culture of safety in schools. CENTEGIX seeks to ensure that school staff and students receive the highest possible quality education while remaining safe inside their buildings. It shares this mandate with the federal laws that grant money for safety and security improvements in schools.
CENTEGIX is the leader in incident response solutions. CENTEGIX innovates safety solutions to empower and protect people every day. We’re the leading wearable safety technology provider for K-12 education, and leaders nationwide trust our safety solutions to provide peace of mind in the workplace. Our Safety Platform is the fastest and easiest way for staff to get help in an emergency, from the everyday to the extreme.
The CENTEGIX Safety Platform™ is a worthy investment for schools seeking to spend their federal funding on effective, innovative, user-friendly technology. The Safety Platform is a multi-layered approach to safety.
CrisisAlert
CrisisAlert™ is a wearable emergency button that allows staff members to request assistance from administrators and first responders from anywhere on campus.
Safety Blueprint
Safety Blueprint™ provides dynamic, digital mapping to offer precise location information to responders during any kind of emergency.
Visitor Management
Visitor Management allows schools to authenticate and manage visitors on campus. The Enhanced Visitor Management feature goes one step further to provide the location of all visitors in real time.
Reunification
CENTEGIX Reunification allows administrators to efficiently communicate and reunite parties in an emergency.
CENTEGIX Safety Platform™, featuring CrisisAlert™, accelerates your response to emergencies. We’ve built the CENTEGIX Safety Platform to support you in the single most critical factor of incident response: time. Because in an emergency, every second matters. Find out more about how your district can apply federal funding toward an investment in CENTEGIX’s innovative multi-layered safety technology.
Want to see your individual state’s school safety legislation and funding? Explore school safety standards by state and see what funding is available to your district.
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