Free Resources and Consulting Services Available to Help Secure School Violence Protection Funding

• By Rhea Kelly
• 05/22/24

Ed tech provider Bluum is offering free grant resources and consulting services to help school districts apply for funding from the COPS School Violence Protection Program, a grant opportunity from the United States Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services with awards totaling $73 million.

Available to all public school districts, public school boards, and public charter schools, the COPS SVVP grant will award up to $500,000 per recipient over a three-year period to provide up to 75% funding for the following school safety measures:

• 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; and
• Any other measure that the COPS Office determines may provide a significant improvement in security.

Additional school safety measures are available through the Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) as part of the STOP School Violence Act of 2018:

• Development and operation of anonymous reporting systems (such as hotlines, websites, and mobile apps);
• 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; and
• Any other measure the BJA determines may provide a significant improvement in security.

Free grant resources provided by Bluum include:

• An SVPP prep guide with an overview of the grant process and application milestones;
• An SVPP Quick Start Guide laying out the grant requirements
• A complimentary 15-minute grant funding consultation from a grant and funding expert;
• A subscription to Bluum's SVPP Grant Newsletter;
• A blog post offering insights and strategies for securing an SVPP grant; and
• The webinar Unlocking School Safety: Revealing Insights & Securing Funds for Comprehensive Security Plans.

"The SVPP grant program is a powerful opportunity to improve campus safety, but few busy administrators have the time and resources to take on a grant application of this size," said Emily Cook, vice president of education services at Bluum, in a statement. "We're excited to make this a lighter lift for them through our comprehensive support and personalized consultations that guide them through the application process as they work to ensure the safety and well-being of their students and staff."

Grant applications are due in two parts: Materials must be submitted via Grants.gov by June 11, 2024, and via JustGrants by June 17, 2024. For more information, visit the Bluum site.