U.S. Department of Justice

Office of Community Oriented Policing Services

 Fact Sheet cops.usdoj.gov

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October 2023

2023 COPS Office School Violence Prevention Program

The COPS Office School Violence Prevention Program 

(SVPP) is a competitive award program designed to pro

vide funding to improve security at schools and on school 

grounds in the grantee’s jurisdiction through evidence-based 

school safety programs.

Background

The Office of Community Oriented Policing Services 

(COPS Office) has long demonstrated a commitment to 

school safety and to ensuring student success in supportive, 

safe environments. The COPS Office invested more than 

$900 million in American schools through previous grant 

programs such as Secure Our Schools, COPS in Schools, 

School-Based Partnerships, and the Safe School Initiative. 

Between 2018 and 2022, the COPS Office awarded nearly 

$233 million through SVPP. Up to $73 million in SVPP 

funding was available in FY 2023 to provide states, units of 

local government, Indian tribes, and their public agencies 

the opportunity to establish and enhance a variety of school 

safety equipment and programs to encourage the continu

ation and enhancement of school safety efforts to prevent 

violence in their communities.

Funding provisions

SVPP, which is authorized under the STOP School Violence 

Act, provides funding directly to states, units of local government, Indian tribes, and public agencies of all of these 

to be used to improve security at schools and on school 

grounds in the grantees’ jurisdictions through evidencebased school safety programs that may include one or more 

of the following:

	“Coordination with local law enforcement”

	“Training for local law enforcement officers to prevent 

school violence against others and self”

	“Placement and use of metal detectors, locks, 

lighting, and other deterrent measures”

	“Acquisition and installation of technology for 

expedited notification of local law enforcement 

during an emergency”

	“Any other measure that, in the determination of 

the director of the COPS Office, may provide a 

significant improvement in security”

Applications were evaluated on a number of factors, includ

ing the program impact of the proposed project, financial 

need, need for improved security, current school safety and 

planning efforts, funding request and integration informa

tion, management and implementation plan, and sustain

ability plan.

2023 Highlights

	The COPS Office received 1,022 applications from 

jurisdictions in 50 states. 

	The COPS Office made 206 awards totaling $73,619,458.

	Rural jurisdictions received 71 percent of awards, 

suburban jurisdictions 10 percent, and urban jurisdictions 19 percent.

	Nearly 4,000 schools and more than 1.5 million 

students will benefit from the funded projects.

	A pool of funding was reserved for microgrants for school 

districts, including rural, tribal, and low-resourced schools. 

Each microgrant award request was capped at $100,000, 

and 7 microgrant awards were funded for a total of 

$444,284.
Application Statistics

Applications submitted 1,022

States represented 50

Average federal request $334,339

Award Statistics

Number of awards 206

States represented 46

Average award amount $357,376

Award Impacts and Demographics*

Schools impacted 3,974

Students impacted 1,518,098

Percent rural 71

Percent suburban 10

Percent urban 19

* As reported by applicants

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2023 COPS Office School Violence Prevention Program

For more information about the COPS Office 

School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP), 

please contact the COPS Office Response Center at 

AskCOPSRC@usdoj.gov or 800-421-6770 or visit the 

COPS Office website at https://cops.usdoj.gov.

Contact the COPS Office

October 2023