Officers hired through the COPS in Schools program perform a variety of functions within schools including teaching crime prevention and substance-abuse classes, monitoring troubled students, and building respect between law enforcement and students. School Resource Officers combine the functions of law enforcement and education. COPS in Schools grants are awarded to law enforcement agencies that partner with schools. The partnership must define strategies to utilize problem solving and community policing techniques to prevent school violence and implement educational programs. Grants are awarded to provide for a designated portion of the salary and benefits of each new officer over three years.
Funding begins when new officers are hired or on the award start date, which ever is later.