School Safety Personnel or Programming Grant Program

The School Safety Personnel or Programming Grant Program is administered by the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services, a state agency responsible for supporting public safety initiatives across the Commonwealth of Virginia. This funding opportunity is designed to strengthen school safety by supporting personnel, programming, equipment, and training that prevent crime and violence in school settings. The program operates as part of the state’s broader commitment to improving coordination between school divisions and law enforcement agencies, ensuring that safety interventions are proactive, structured, and evidence based. The primary purpose of this grant program is to establish or sustain school safety related personnel positions and associated programming that enhance the safety of students and staff. Eligible positions include division level school safety directors or coordinators, threat assessment coordinators, behavior intervention specialists, law enforcement liaison officers, and school ambassadors. These roles are intended to address behavioral risks, improve threat assessment processes, and strengthen relationships between schools and law enforcement. Funding may also support equipment, training, and educational programming that contributes directly to school safety outcomes. Funding is awarded on a competitive basis for a defined twelve month period beginning July 1, 2026 and ending June 30, 2027. The program allows requests of up to 100000 dollars per position in state funds, with an additional cap of 25000 dollars for non personnel expenses such as equipment, supplies, training, and programming. Funds are distributed on a reimbursement basis, requiring recipients to report expenditures quarterly and submit documentation through the state’s online grants management system. Certain costs are explicitly prohibited, including firearms, vehicles, private security, and food or beverage expenses, and all expenditures must align with approved budget categories and project goals. A local match is required for all applicants and must be calculated using the Virginia Department of Education Composite Index of Local Ability to Pay. This match may be provided as cash or in kind contributions but must come from non federal sources. Applicants are required to document and report matching contributions throughout the grant period and ensure that all match obligations are met by the end of the funding cycle. The program also prohibits supplanting, meaning grant funds must supplement rather than replace existing local or state funding for similar activities. Eligibility is limited to local units of government within Virginia, including school divisions and law enforcement agencies acting on behalf of localities. Applications must be submitted through the DCJS Online Grants Management System, and all required components must be completed within the system to be considered. Required application elements include general organizational information, a project narrative describing need and implementation, detailed budget entries, personnel descriptions, and justification for all requested costs. Law enforcement positions require a formal memorandum of understanding between the agency and the school division outlining roles and responsibilities. Applications are due by March 10, 2026 at 5:00 PM Eastern Time, and late submissions are not accepted. Following submission, applications undergo a competitive review process conducted by DCJS staff, with evaluation based on adherence to program guidelines, strength of the proposal, budget justification, and alignment with funding priorities. Final funding decisions are made by the Criminal Justice Services Board, typically during a scheduled meeting in May 2026. Successful applicants may be eligible for continuation funding for up to four years total, contingent on performance, compliance, and availability of funds, requiring annual reapplication and review.

Ensure match is calculated correctly using composite index and all required sections are complete; avoid unallowable expenses and submit before deadline; clearly justify personnel roles and demonstrate need with strong narrative