School Resource Officer Incentive Grant Program 2026

The Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS), a state-level agency, is administering the Calendar Year 2026 School Resource Officer Incentive Grant Program for New Positions. The program is designed to support the establishment of new school safety personnel positions within public schools in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The primary goal of this funding opportunity is to enhance the safety of students and school staff through proactive safety measures and programming aimed at preventing crime and violence. The funding does not cover traditional School Resource Officers (SROs) or School Security Officers (SSOs), as those are covered under separate funding opportunities. Instead, it focuses on roles such as Division School Safety Director, Division Threat Assessment Coordinator, Behavior Interventionist, Law Enforcement Liaison Officer, and School Ambassadors. Funding is available on a competitive basis for a 12-month grant period from January 1, 2026, to December 31, 2026. The grant may be renewed annually for up to four years, contingent upon performance and the availability of funds. Applicants may request up to $100,000 per position, with an additional maximum of $25,000 for equipment, training, and programming. The grant operates on a cost-reimbursement basis, and all grant-funded expenditures must fall within the approved budget categories. Matching funds are required, calculated using the Virginia Department of Education’s Composite Index of Local Ability-to-Pay. Both cash and in-kind contributions are allowed, and detailed match documentation must be maintained. Applicants must be local units of government within Virginia, including law enforcement agencies and public school divisions. The application must be submitted via the Online Grants Management System (OGMS). No paper or emailed applications are accepted. Required documents include a completed application form, detailed budget, narrative, and for law enforcement positions, a signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) based on the DCJS model. All positions must be new and must operate within public schools. Acceptable use of funds includes staff salaries, essential equipment (e.g., locked filing cabinets, radios, computers), and training or programming related to school safety, including violence prevention and trauma-sensitive care. Unallowable costs include firearms, handcuffs, stun weapons, consultants, private security, and food or beverage expenses. Any prorated items must be justified to show partial use directly tied to the funded position. Applications are due by 5:00 PM on Wednesday, August 13, 2025. Late submissions will not be considered. Funding Opportunity #555043 must be selected in OGMS when applying. The application process includes multiple required components and must be completed in full before submission is allowed. DCJS will review applications using a competitive scoring rubric. Priority will be given to applications under separate SRO and SSO grant numbers (#554806 and #555347). Final funding decisions will be made by the Criminal Justice Services Board in October 2025 and are not subject to appeal. For technical assistance with OGMS, applicants can contact ogmssupport@dcjs.virginia.gov. For grant-specific inquiries, the primary contacts are Phyllis Vaughan (phyllis.vaughan@dcjs.virginia.gov, 804-340-9754) and Tracy Matthews (tracy.matthews@dcjs.virginia.gov, 804-371-0635). The grant guidance and application forms were published on July 16, 2025, and additional training resources are available on the DCJS website.

Submit only through OGMS; include all required roles (project director, administrator, finance officer); ensure match is calculated using correct Composite Index; include signed MOU for law enforcement; review for unallowable expenses; application must be fully complete to submit.