What is the SVPP Grant?
The School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP) is a program enacted by the federal government that awards grants to schools in order to increase security on school grounds. SVPP grants are made possible through the Students, Teachers, and Officers Preventing School Violence Act of 2018 (STOP School Violence Act of 2018).
The Act gives the COPS Office (the Community Oriented Policing Services, a division of the U.S. Department of Justice), the ability to allocate federal funds to State, county, and local government and law enforcement agencies as well as school districts. These grants are “free” for their recipients—they are already funded through tax dollars. They are available for the implementation of “evidence-based school safety programs and technology,” according to the COPS Office.
How Can Our School Use Funds from an SVPP Grant?
SVPP grants may be used for "evidence-based programs, practices, technologies, or equipment" that helps increase security at schools and on school grounds. This definition is broad and includes potential funding for a wide variety of items, such as:
- Staff salaries (if staff roles are directly related to an SVPP-covered purpose). An example may include a school safety coordinator.
- Classroom door locks
- Classroom window shades
- Metal detectors
- Alarm systems
- Entry control equipment
- Identification technology systems
- Laptops
- Video surveillance systems
- Communication tools
- Training for law enforcement officers
- And other deterrent equipment
SVPP Grant Funding Amount
The SVPP grant is a 36-month program, which means budget requests must not exceed three years. SVPP grants may be awarded up to a maximum amount of $500,000. Applicants may make a separate “microgrant” request for amounts of $100,000 or less.
Microgrants are available for rural schools, tribal schools, and schools with few resources. While individual awards may seem small, the “pot” for SVPP grant funding is large. The COPS Office expects that 235 awards will be made in 2024 totaling as much as $73,000,000.
Note that there is a matching funds requirement or “local cost share” component to the SVPP grant, which is a 25 percent minimum for fiscal year 2024. Applicants may request a waiver of the cost share requirement during the application process.
Who is Eligible for the COPS Grant for Schools?
According to the COPS Office, the following entities are eligible for COPS grants for schools, including the SVPP grant, for the fiscal year 2024:
- States
- Local governments
- Indian tribes
- School districts, no matter their size
- Public charter school districts
- Law enforcement agencies
Applications for SVPP grants require the completion of an Application for Federal Assistance (form SF-424) and a Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (form SF-LLL). Applicants will also need to submit budgeting information and a detailed plan for the use of grant funds.
For more complete information on applying for an SVPP grant, visit the COPS Office website page: Pre-Award Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).
For fiscal year 2024, applications are due on June 17, 2024. SVPP grant recipients will be announced on or around September 30, 2024.
Get Reliable Classroom Safety Equipment With SVPP Grant Funding
At School Safety Solution, our mission is to decrease the impacts of gun violence in schools, office buildings, places of worship and anywhere people come together. We are proud to provide reliable, high-quality and life-saving classroom safety equipment, including our SVPP Grant-eligible classroom door locks and lockdown shades.
You can call our team of safety experts at 888.733.0406 or send us an email at info@schoolsafetysolution.com for more information.
