COPS Secure Our Schools (SOS) Grant Program

There will be two deadlines for the FY 2010 Secure Our Schools program. Priority consideration will be provided to those applicants that submit complete and accurate applications by the first deadline. The deadline for priority consideration will be June 21, 2010, and the second and final deadline will be July 2, 2010.

A COPS Secure Our Schools (SOS) grant provides funding to state, local, or tribal governments to assist with the development of school safety resources. This funding will allow recipients the opportunity to establish and enhance a variety of school safety equipment and/or programs to encourage the continuation and enhancement of school safety efforts within their communities. The COPS Office is optimistic that this grant program will help place agencies at the forefront of innovative school safety developments. Funding under this program may be requested for such things as: (1) Placement and use of metal detectors, locks, lighting, and other deterrent measures; (2) Security assessments; (3) Security training of personnel and students; (4) Coordination with local law enforcement; and (5) Any other measure that may provide a significant improvement in security. The Secure Our Schools program encourages law enforcement agencies and school districts to partner together to improve school security and safety. Through this program, applicants may request funding for the placement and use of deterrent measures such as new equipment, technology, training, and assessments at schools and on school grounds. The FY 2010 program is placing a greater focus on school safety assessments. All FY 2010 applicants must have conducted a school safety assessment within the last three years for the schools targeted through this grant application or request funding through this grant application to conduct a school safety assessment for those identified schools. An exception to this requirement may be granted if your agency is already planning an assessment for the targeted schools with other funding during the two-year SOS grant period. These assessments should be used as strategic evaluation tools to identify school safety problems. SOS applicants will be able to request budget items which are specifically linked to the resolution of school safety problems identified through these school safety assessments. Budget requests may be made in the categories of: (1) Civilian/Non-sworn Personnel (Salaries and Benefits); (2) Equipment/Technology: Equipment and/or technology items must be clearly linked to the enhancement or implementation of the SOS project. Examples of such items may include the following: (a) Surveillance cameras and/or systems (and accompanying equipment); (b) Door locking mechanisms/Access control doors; (c) Lighting (on school grounds, not involving construction); (d) Metal detectors (including portable); (e) ID scanning devices (and accompanying equipment); (f) Fingerprinting scanners; (g) Laptops (directly related to SOS project); (h) Printers (directly related to SOS project); (i) Breathalyzers (solely for use by police officers); (j) Fire extinguishers; (k) Video cameras for school buses; (l) Intercoms (rapid communication system); (m) Two-way radios; (n) Defibrillators; (3) Supplies: Generally, supplies include any materials that are expended or consumed during the course of the SOS project. Such costs may include training manuals, paper, printer ink, pens, postage, etc. All supply items must be directly related to the SOS project; (4) Travel/Training: Travel/training costs include grant-related travel costs for the grantee to visit other jurisdictions engaged in similar programs or to attend conferences/trainings directly related to the goals of the project. Expenses for transportation, lodging, meals, and incidental expenses (if travel is more than 50 miles from the program location) will be reviewed in accordance with applicable guidelines as part of the application process. Examples of such travel purposes include school safety and police/school partnership trainings.

History of Funds:

In FY09, $16,000,000 was allocated to fund the COPS Secure Our Schools Program.

Average Award:

Varies

FY10 Guidance: www.cops.usdoj.gov/default.asp?Item=487 For state contact information, please see following link: www.cops.usdoj.gov/default.asp?Item=487

Contact Information:

Name: Office of Community Oriented Policing Services

Department: Office of the Director

Street: 1100 Vermont Avenue NW

City: Washington

Zip: 20530

Email: askCopsRC@usdoj.gov