School safety grants available

Schools may work with their local law enforcement agency to apply for a school safety grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services. Local law enforcement agencies may apply for up to $400,000 with a 50 percent local match required. The deadline for Secure Our Schools grant applications is June 13, 2008. Grants may be used to fund:

• Placement and use of metal detectors, locks, lighting and other deterrent measures
• Security assessments
• Security training of personnel and students
• Coordination with local law enforcement
• Other measures that may provide a significant improvement in security

There are three ways to apply for the SOS 2008 grant program:

1. Obtain a copy of the application materials by calling the COPS Response Center at 1.800.421.6770.
2. Print the application materials from a writeable PDF file that is available for download from http://www.cops.usdoj.gov/Default.asp?Item=240. (If you elect to use this format, please understand that you may not submit your application via e-mail. It must be mailed and postmarked as instructed below and must contain original signatures.)
3. Apply on-line beginning May 23, 2008 at www.grants.gov. To view the application and apply on-line, go to https://apply.grants.gov/forms_apps_idx.html. The opportunity code for this program is COPS-SOS-2008-1.

To be considered for funding, completed applications must be submitted on-line or postmarked no later than June 13, 2008. If you choose to request or download and complete a paper copy of the application, please provide one original and two copies. The completed application can be mailed to:

Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS)
Attention: Secure Our Schools, 8th floor
1100 Vermont Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20530
(If sending via an express delivery service, please use 20005 as the zip code.)

For more information, please contact the COPS Response Center at 1.800.421.6770.

Related Links:

Application Material
Apply Online