Deadline: 04-Aug-2026
The 2026 School Violence Prevention Program provides competitive funding to support evidence-based school safety and security initiatives across eligible jurisdictions in the United States. The COPS Office expects to make approximately 200 awards, with up to $73 million available and individual awards of up to $500,000. Funded projects will run for 36 months beginning on October 1, 2026.
Overview
The 2026 School Violence Prevention Program supports school safety initiatives that improve security at schools and on school grounds.
The program is administered by the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, known as the COPS Office, which is part of the U.S. Department of Justice.
Through this funding opportunity, eligible applicants can access support to implement evidence-based safety measures, strengthen public safety partnerships, and improve protection for students, staff, and school communities.
Key Focus Areas
The program focuses on school safety, security, and community policing.
Key focus areas include:
- Community policing
- School security
- Evidence-based school safety programs
- Safety on school grounds
- State law enforcement agencies
- Local law enforcement agencies
- Territorial law enforcement agencies
- Tribal law enforcement agencies
- Public safety partnerships
- School district safety planning
- Rural school safety
- Tribal school safety
- Low-resourced school support
- Microgrants for eligible school districts
- Making America Safe Again priority
Purpose of the Program
The purpose of the 2026 School Violence Prevention Program is to improve safety and security in schools and on school grounds.
The program supports evidence-based approaches that help prevent school violence, strengthen preparedness, and improve coordination between schools, law enforcement, and community safety partners.
It is intended to help eligible jurisdictions invest in practical school safety solutions that protect students, staff, and visitors.
Administering Agency
The program is administered by the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services.
The COPS Office is a component of the U.S. Department of Justice.
The program supports the COPS Office mission of advancing community policing and improving public safety through partnerships, prevention, and local capacity building.
Total Funding Available
The COPS Office anticipates up to $73 million in total funding under the 2026 School Violence Prevention Program.
Approximately 200 awards are expected to be made.
Maximum Award Amount
Individual awards may be granted up to $500,000.
The final award amount may depend on the proposed project, eligibility, funding availability, and review process.
Project Period
Funded projects will have a 36-month period of performance.
The project period is expected to begin on October 1, 2026.
Cost Share Requirement
A local cost share of at least 25 percent is generally required.
The cost share must usually be provided in cash.
Applicants may request a match waiver, but the waiver must be approved.
Microgrant Funding
Approximately $1 million of the available funding is reserved for microgrants.
Microgrants are targeted at school districts, including:
- Rural schools
- Tribal schools
- Low-resourced schools
Microgrant applications must not exceed $100,000.
Selected microgrant recipients will not be required to provide the 25 percent local cost share.
Who is Eligible?
Eligible applicants include states, units of local government, Indian tribes, and their public agencies.
Eligible applicants may include:
- State governments
- County governments
- City or township governments
- Special district governments
- Federally recognized Native American Tribal governments
- Other Native American Tribal governments
- Independent school districts
- Public school districts
- Public charter schools
- School districts with a single school
- School boards
- Law enforcement agencies
- Other eligible educational organizations
Applicants should be able to implement school safety activities within eligible jurisdictions in the United States.
Eligible School-Related Applicants
School-related eligible applicants may include school systems and public agencies with legal authority to apply.
These may include:
- Public school districts
- Independent school districts
- Public charter schools
- School districts with only one school
- School boards
- Educational organizations that meet program eligibility rules
Who is Not Eligible?
Certain schools and education providers are not eligible to apply as primary applicants.
Ineligible primary applicants include:
- Individual schools that do not operate as school districts
- Independent schools
- Private schools
- Private charter schools
These entities may need to work with an eligible applicant, such as a school district or public agency, where allowed under program rules.
What the Funding Can Support
The program supports evidence-based initiatives that improve school safety and security.
Supported activities may include:
- School safety planning
- Security improvements on school grounds
- Evidence-based violence prevention activities
- Public safety partnerships
- Community policing strategies connected to school safety
- Coordination between schools and law enforcement
- Safety improvements for rural, tribal, and low-resourced school districts
- Projects that strengthen school security infrastructure and preparedness
- Activities that improve the ability of schools and communities to prevent violence
Projects should be clearly connected to school safety and should demonstrate practical public safety value.
Why It Matters
School safety is a major public safety priority for communities across the United States.
Schools need strong partnerships, evidence-based safety planning, and appropriate security measures to help protect students, educators, staff, and families.
The 2026 School Violence Prevention Program helps eligible jurisdictions strengthen prevention efforts, improve school security, and support safer learning environments.
The microgrant component is especially important because rural, tribal, and low-resourced schools may face additional barriers in accessing safety resources.
How to Apply or Prepare a Strong Application
Applicants should prepare a clear and complete proposal that explains the safety need, planned activities, partnerships, budget, and expected outcomes.
Step 1: Confirm Applicant Eligibility
Applicants should first confirm that they are an eligible public agency, government entity, Tribal government, school district, school board, law enforcement agency, or other eligible educational organization.
Private schools, private charter schools, and individual schools that do not operate as school districts should not apply as primary applicants.
Step 2: Identify the School Safety Need
The application should clearly explain the safety issues the project will address.
This may include:
- Gaps in school security
- Need for stronger public safety coordination
- Need for evidence-based prevention programs
- Safety concerns on school grounds
- Limited resources in rural or tribal school districts
- Need for stronger partnerships between schools and law enforcement
Step 3: Describe the Proposed Project
Applicants should explain what the project will do and how it will improve school safety.
The project description should include:
- Target schools or districts
- Safety activities to be implemented
- Evidence-based approach
- Community policing connection
- Roles of partners
- Timeline for implementation
- Expected improvements in school security
Step 4: Explain Partnerships
Strong applications should show collaboration between relevant partners.
Partners may include:
- School districts
- Law enforcement agencies
- Local governments
- Tribal governments
- Public safety agencies
- Community organizations
- School boards
- Education administrators
The application should explain how these partners will coordinate to improve safety.
Step 5: Prepare the Budget
Applicants should prepare a clear and eligible budget.
The budget should include:
- Requested federal funding
- Local cost share, if required
- Cash match details
- Microgrant amount, if applying under the microgrant category
- Project costs linked to school safety activities
- Justification for each budget item
Step 6: Address Cost Share or Waiver
Applicants should confirm whether the 25 percent local cash cost share applies.
If a match waiver is needed, applicants should request it and provide a strong justification.
Microgrant recipients will not be required to provide the 25 percent local cost share.
Step 7: Show Expected Outcomes
The application should explain how the project will improve safety.
Expected outcomes may include:
- Improved school security
- Stronger prevention capacity
- Better public safety partnerships
- Safer school grounds
- Improved emergency preparedness
- Increased support for rural, tribal, or low-resourced schools
- Stronger community policing engagement
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Applicants should avoid errors that may weaken or disqualify an application.
Common mistakes include:
- Applying as an ineligible private school
- Applying as an individual school that does not operate as a school district
- Not clearly linking the project to school safety
- Failing to explain the evidence-based approach
- Not showing community policing relevance
- Providing an unclear budget
- Forgetting the 25 percent cash cost share requirement
- Requesting a microgrant above $100,000
- Not explaining partnerships with schools or law enforcement
- Submitting a proposal with vague outcomes
- Not showing how the project will improve safety on school grounds
Tips for a Strong Application
A strong application should be specific, evidence-based, and partnership-driven.
Useful tips include:
- Clearly define the school safety challenge.
- Explain how the project will improve security at schools or on school grounds.
- Show how the approach is evidence-based.
- Demonstrate strong collaboration between schools and public safety partners.
- Connect the project to community policing goals.
- Provide a realistic 36-month implementation plan.
- Prepare a clear budget with eligible costs.
- Address the cost share requirement or waiver request clearly.
- For microgrants, show why the school district is rural, tribal, or low-resourced.
- Include measurable safety outcomes.
FAQ
1. What is the 2026 School Violence Prevention Program?
The 2026 School Violence Prevention Program is a competitive funding opportunity that supports evidence-based school safety initiatives across eligible jurisdictions in the United States.
2. Who administers the program?
The program is administered by the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, a component of the U.S. Department of Justice.
3. How much total funding is available?
Up to $73 million is available, and approximately 200 awards are expected.
4. What is the maximum award amount?
Individual awards may be granted up to $500,000.
5. Is a local match required?
A local cost share of at least 25 percent in cash is generally required unless a match waiver is requested and approved. Microgrant recipients are not required to provide the 25 percent local cost share.
6. What are microgrants?
Microgrants are smaller grants of up to $100,000 targeted at school districts, including rural, tribal, and low-resourced schools.
7. Who can apply?
Eligible applicants include states, units of local government, Indian tribes, public agencies, school districts, public charter schools, school boards, law enforcement agencies, and other eligible educational organizations.
Conclusion
The 2026 School Violence Prevention Program provides major federal support for evidence-based school safety and security initiatives in the United States.
With up to $73 million available, awards of up to $500,000, and targeted microgrants for rural, tribal, and low-resourced school districts, the program helps eligible applicants strengthen school safety partnerships and improve protection on school grounds. Strong applications should clearly demonstrate eligibility, safety need, evidence-based activities, public safety partnerships, budget readiness, and measurable outcomes over the 36-month project period.
For more information, visit Grants.gov.