FY25 School Violence Prevention Program
This program provides funding to state and local governments, tribal entities, and public agencies to implement safety measures and training aimed at reducing violence in schools and enhancing overall school security.
The FY25 School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP) is administered by the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office). The COPS Office, established to advance community policing nationwide, has provided over $21 billion in funding since its inception. It supports state, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement in their mission to increase public safety and community trust. This specific program under the STOP School Violence Act of 2018 seeks to fund projects aimed at enhancing safety at schools and on school grounds through evidence-based strategies and technologies. The primary objective of SVPP is to improve school safety through coordinated approaches with local law enforcement, the installation of deterrent measures like metal detectors and locks, advanced emergency notification systems, and comprehensive training for law enforcement to mitigate student violence. The program also supports broader measures that could significantly improve school security as determined by the COPS Office. In FY25, approximately $73 million is anticipated to be awarded, with individual grants up to $500,000 and up to 200 total awards. A separate microgrant track is available for rural, tribal, and low-resourced schools, offering awards up to $100,000 and waiving the required 25 percent local match. Eligible applicants include states, units of local government, Indian tribes, and their public agencies such as school districts and law enforcement agencies. Individual schools that are not independent districts and private or independent charter schools are ineligible. Applications must be developed collaboratively with input from law enforcement and other community stakeholders, including educators, mental health professionals, and parents. Applicants must also comply with specific federal statutes, including assurances of nondiscrimination and adherence to 8 U.S.C. § 1373 regarding immigration status communications. Applications must be submitted in a two-step process: first via Grants.gov by June 18, 2025, at 4:59 PM ET using the SF-424 form, and then by completing the full application in JustGrants by June 26, 2025, at 4:59 PM ET. All applications must include a proposal abstract, answers to survey questions, budget details, letters of support, and required disclosures. Applications will be evaluated on their program impact, security needs, and justification for federal assistance, followed by a comprehensive narrative review and administrative compliance check. Award announcements are expected on or after September 1, 2025. The period of performance will begin on October 1, 2025, and last for 36 months. Matching funds of at least 25 percent are required unless a waiver is granted. Contact information includes the COPS Office Response Center at AskCopsRC@usdoj.gov or 800-421-6770 for programmatic assistance, and JustGrants support at JustGrants.Support@usdoj.gov or 833-872-5175 for technical support. Comprehensive training resources and FAQs are available on the COPS Office website to assist applicants throughout the submission process.
Award Range
Not specified - $500,000
Total Program Funding
$73,000,000
Number of Awards
200
Matching Requirement
Yes - A local cost share (matching funds) of at least 25 percent in the form of cash is required unless a match waiver is requested and approved, and the period of performance duration will be 36 months, with a period of performance start date of 10/1/25.
Additional Details
The COPS Office anticipates that up to $73,000,000 will be available for up to $500,000 per award, with approximately 200 awards anticipated.
Eligible Applicants
Additional Requirements
The following entities are eligible to apply under this program; States, units of local government, Indian tribes, and their public agencies, including school districts, including public charter schools and school districts with a single school; school boards; law enforcement agencies. Note: Individual schools not operating as school districts and independent schools and private schools, including private charter schools, are NOT eligible to apply as primary applicants. Additional Applicant Eligibility Factors: Pursuant to 34 U.S.C. 10552(a)(1)(2), each application shall be accompanied by an assurance that the application was prepared after consultation with individuals not limited to law enforcement officers (including licensed mental health professionals, social workers, students, parents, school violence researchers/academics (if practical), teachers, principals, and other school personnel) to ensure that the improvements to be funded under the grant are consistent with a comprehensive approach to preventing school violence, including being protective of student privacy and ensuring that students are not discriminated against on the basis of race, national origin, disability, religion, or sex, and individualized to the needs of each school at which those improvements are to be made. In addition, state and local governmental entities must comply with 8 U.S.C. 1373, which provides that state and local government entities may not prohibit, or in any way restrict, any government entity or official from sending to, receiving from, maintaining, or exchanging information regarding citizenship or immigration status, lawful or unlawful, of any individual with components of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security or any other federal, state or local government entity. This includes any prohibitions or restrictions imposed or established by a state or local government entity or official. For additional information, please see the appendices in the FY25 SVPP Application Resource Guide.
Geographic Eligibility
All
Application Opens
April 24, 2025
Application Closes
June 18, 2025
Grantor
U.S. Department of JU.S.tice (Community Oriented Policing Services)
Phone
800-421-6770Subscribe to view contact details