School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP)

Interested in applying?

Check out our How to Apply page for resources such as frequently asked questions, appendices, additional fact sheets, links to webinars, and more.

Award Announcement Update

The Fiscal Year 2023 School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP) Award announcement information is now available! Visit the 2023 SVPP Awards for the award announcement and management documents.

For all COPS Office 2023 Awards information, visit the Grants page.

CLOSED:

The FY 2023 School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP) closed on Wednesday, May 17, 2023, at 4:59 PM ET.*

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SVPP Informational Webinar

On April 25th, the COPS Office hosted an informational webinar on the School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP). This webinar provided interested applicants the opportunity to learn about the program and ask questions in preparation of submitting an application.


STOP Solicitation Informational Webinar

On April 6, 2023, BJA, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, and the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services hosted a webinar to provide details about the FY 2023 STOP School Violence Program opportunities. Register to watch the recording.

ABOUT THE SVPP PROGRAM

The Students, Teachers, and Officers Preventing School Violence Act of 2018 (STOP School Violence Act of 2018) gave the COPS Office authority to provide awards directly to States, units of local government, or Indian tribes to improve security at schools and on school grounds in the jurisdiction of the grantee through evidence-based school safety programs and technology.

Who is Eligible?


Local Law Enforcement Agencies

State Law Enforcement Agencies

Units of local government (e.g., counties, cities, school districts)
 

Federally Recognized Indian tribes and their public agencies

Public Government Agencies
 
Funding

Up to $73 million in funding is available for FY23 SVPP. Each award is three years (36 months) in duration for a maximum federal share of $500,000 per award. There is a local cash match (cost share) requirement of at least 25 percent.

SVPP funding will provide up to 75% funding for the following school safety measures in and around K-12 (primary and secondary) schools and school grounds:

  • “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”
  • “Any other measure that the COPS Office determines may provide a significant improvement in security”

The following school safety measures are available through the Bureau of Justice Assistance’s (BJA’s) section of the STOP School Violence Act of 2018:

  • Development and operation of anonymous reporting systems
    • Hotlines
    • Internet websites
    • Mobile telephone applications
  • 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
  • Any other measure the BJA determines may provide a significant improvement in security

Please find additional info on the Bureau of Justice Assistance's (BJA's) website.

Funding may also be available through the OJJDP FY 2023 Enhancing School Capacity to Address Youth Violence solicitation.

All awards are subject to the availability of appropriated funds and any modifications or additional requirements that may be imposed by law.

Need more information on how to apply to any of our programs?


For additional assistance we encourage you to visit the How to Apply page, which includes frequently asked questions, appendices, additional fact sheets, links to webinars, and other resources.


The following resources present important lessons learned and other insights into school violence that may aid governments and communities as they develop and refine school safety plans. Applicants seeking SVPP funding may find these and other resources helpful as they prepare their applications.

OTHER GOVERNMENT RESOURCES

Schoolsafety.gov

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Department of Education (ED), U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) created SchoolSafety.gov to share actionable recommendations to keep school communities safe. SchoolSafety.gov aims to help schools prevent, protect, mitigate, respond to, and recover from emergency situations

The Final Report and Finding of the Safe School Initiative

The Safe School Initiative sought to identify information that could be obtainable, or "knowable," prior to an attack. That information would then be analyzed and evaluated to produce a factual, accurate knowledge base on targeted school attacks. This knowledge could be used to help communities across the country to formulate policies and strategies aimed at preventing school-based attacks.

U.S. Secret Service National Threat Assessment Center

On July 12, 2018, the U.S. Secret Service National Threat Assessment Center released Enhancing School Safety Using a Threat Assessment Model: An Operational Guide for Preventing Targeted School Violence to provide fundamental direction on how to prevent incidents of targeted school violence. The guide provides schools and communities with a framework to identify students of concern, assess their risk for engaging in violence, and identify intervention strategies to mitigate that risk.

NON-FEDERAL RESOURCES

Guide for Preventing and Responding to School Shootings

The purpose of this document is to present different strategies and approaches for members of school communities to consider when creating safer learning environments.

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