When a funding announcement is open, PCCD posts it on our
Open Funding Announcements webpage. A Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document accompanies each funding announcement to provide additional information for potential applicants. Please check the FAQ frequently as answers are updated on a regular basis.
School Safety and Security Grants Program
The School Safety and Security Grants Program was originally established in 2018 to provide for school entities of the Commonwealth to be safer places for students, staff and visitors. The School Safety and Security Fund was established in the State Treasury to provide ongoing support to schools for safety and security purposes. Funding,
eligible activities, and items are determined on an annual basis.
As of December 13, 2023,
Act 33 of 2023 transferred the Targeted School Safety Grants for Nonpublic Schools Program, previously administered by the PA Department of Education (PDE), to the School Safety and Security Committee (SSSC) within PCCD.
Grants are available to eligible nonpublic schools to address school violence and school mental health. Eligible uses include any allowed under
24 P.S. §13-1306-B(j) or programs that address school violence by establishing or enhancing school security, including costs associated with the training and compensation of school security personnel.
Eligible entities that can apply for this funding are municipalities (including counties), district attorneys, institutions of higher education, and community organizations. If funding is made available, solicitations are usually released in September, with awards being made prior to March 1 of each year.
Grant Guides are available for assistance with the application process and general grant administration.
Section 1319-B of the PA Public School Code mandates that public school entities report data annually on school safety incidents, including incidents involving acts of violence, possession of a weapon, or possession, use, or sale of alcohol or tobacco on school property.
The School Safety and Security Committee at PCCD is responsible for publishing a School Safety Annual Report each year by November 1 in collaboration with the PA Department of Education (PDE). You can access school safety incident data reported by school entities for school year 2023-24 in the Safe Schools Office Discipline Data Repository.
Click
here to review School Safety and Security Coordinator duties and responsibilities under the law.
Click
here for more information about required training for School Safety and Security Coordinators.
Appointment of School Safety and Security Coordinators
School entities must submit the name and contact information of an individual appointed as a School Safety and Security Coordinator to PCCD's School Safety and Security Committee within 30 days of the appointment. Whenever a vacancy in a school entity's School Safety and Security Coordinator occurs, the chief school administrator shall, within 30 days of the vacancy, appoint a new Coordinator.
Click
here to provide coordinator contact information to PCCD.
School Safety and Security Coordinator Reports - 2023
Coordinators are required to make a report no later than June 30th of each year to their respective school board on the school's current safety and security practices that identify strategies to improve school safety and security. Coordinators must also file notice of their report with the School Safety and Security Committee. This is required by
Section 1309-B of the PA Public School Code.
School Safety and Security Assessment Criteria
On February 24, 2021, the SSSC adopted a revised set of criteria to assist schools in guiding their school safety and security assessment, which is a strategic evaluation of a school's facilities and programs used to identify potential safety and security threats. Assessments are to include consideration of the safety and security of a school's physical environment, climate and behavioral health environment, and related policies and trainings.
School Safety Assessment Provider Registry
On January 26, 2022, the SSSC adopted a revised set of criteria for new registrants with knowledge and experience in matters of school safety and security that qualifies a person to conduct assessments based upon the Committee's adopted assessment criteria. (
Registration Criteria).
If you are a school entity interested in locating an approved provider, use our
Provider Registry.
Training for School Security Personnel
Click
here to learn more about training for school security personnel, which includes school resource officers, school police officers, and school security guards.
School Security Guard Vendor Registration
Section 1315-C of Article XIII-C (relating to school security) of the Public School Code of 1949 tasks the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) with establishing criteria to certify approved third-party vendors to provide school security guard services to school entities and nonpublic schools. Click
here to review the vendor criteria, to register as a vendor, and to see the list of approved security guard vendors.
Background & History
On February 24, 2021, the School Safety and Security Committee (SSSC) adopted an initial set of "Baseline Criteria" standards that schools could use to guide their decisions about physical security and behavioral health needs. These standards were originally developed in 2020-2021 by a multidisciplinary Baseline Criteria Workgroup established under the SSSC. They were revised in 2023 through a similar workgroup process and adopted by the SSSC in May 2023.
The Baseline Criteria Standards serve as a resource schools can reference to help determine their level of need. All school entities should note that
Act 55 of 2022 amended the School Safety and Security Grant Program process by requiring school entities to meet tier 1 (currently revised to Level 1) baseline criteria prior to expending eligible School Safety and Security Grant Program funding on other eligible school safety project activities.
Act 18 of 2019 amended the Public School Code of 1949 by adding
Article XIII-E, Threat Assessment. Among its provisions, Article XIII-E requires the establishment of threat assessment teams for all school entities in Pennsylvania and tasks the School Safety and Security Committee (SSSC) to research, develop and provide free threat assessment guidelines, training and informational materials, as well as model procedures and guidelines for school entities.
Click
here to learn more about the threat assessment process.
Click
here to learn more about threat assessment training.
Article XIII-B of the Pennsylvania Public School Code requires any school entity applying for a School Safety and Security grant under 24 P.S. §13-1306-B(j)(21) (i.e., trauma-informed approaches to education) to utilize a Model Trauma-Informed Approach Plan adopted by the SSSC. Applicants may utilize their own existing plan, provided it meets the SSSC's Model Plan criteria, or may seek funding to support the development of their own plan. A link to the Model Plan and additional resources can be found here.