The School Safety and Security Commission (SSSC), part of the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD), has awarded $47 million in competitive grants to enhance safety, security and mental health supports in schools across Pennsylvania. Acknowledged. These grants are part of a $155 million school safety program funded by the bipartisan 2023-24 budget and allocated by SSSC in January 2024.
Lt. Governor Austin Davis, chair of PCCD and SSSC, emphasized the importance of ensuring the safety and well-being of Pennsylvania students. This grant is designed to address a variety of challenges schools face, providing resources to strengthen security measures and provide needed mental health services.
Approved grants include:
- $90 million for non-competitive school mental health grants. Supports mental and behavioral health services within school districts, charter schools, career and technical centers, and intermediate units.
- $18.6 million in formula-based school safety and security merit grants will be allocated to every school district in Pennsylvania for physical security enhancements and mental/behavioral health needs.
- $32.2 million in competitive school safety and security grants. Available to eligible school entities, local governments, law enforcement agencies, and authorized vendors, it is designed to improve physical security, provide behavioral health resources, and address school security personnel requirements.
- $14.5 million in school safety grants for nonpublic schools. It is designed to support programs that address school violence and enhance the safety and security of non-public schools through Intermediate Units (IUs) and approved vendors.
The allocation of this funding is consistent with the School Safety and Security Commission’s goal of creating a safe and healthy learning environment for all Pennsylvania students. These grants will help school corporations meet basic safety needs and provide essential mental health services as outlined in the Commission’s revised baseline standards.
Detailed information about the grants, including funding amounts and recipient school entities, can be found on the PCCD School Safety and Security webpage. For more information on the grant, interested parties should visit the same webpage.
