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School Safety Grants / Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania school safety grants

  • Formula grants through PCCD, plus federal programs.
  • What each one funds, and whether cameras qualify.
  • Official sources on every program.
PA PCCDClosedOct 30, 2026BJA STOPJustGrants due Nov 6Nov 6, 2026

Pennsylvania programs checked October 18, 2026. Confirm dates before you apply.

Pennsylvania programs

ClosedCameras: sometimesPA

School Safety & Mental Health Grants (2026-27)

Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD)

Amount

$100M appropriated for 2026-27, plus about $38.8M in unspent prior-year funds.

Formula grant: districts get $100,000 plus an amount based on 2024-25 AADM; IUs, CTCs and charter schools get $70,000. The announcement sets no match requirement.

Next deadline

Closed Oct 30, 2026 in Egrants. Watch PCCD for the next round.

What it funds

  • Physical security, behavioral health, or both.
  • Level 1 Baseline Criteria must be met first, before other eligible items.
  • AEDs and AED/CPR training (new under Act 17 of 2026).

Who can apply

  • School districts, career and technical centers, intermediate units, charter schools (incl. cyber and regional).
  • Private schools apply separately (Targeted School Safety grants, not yet issued for 2026-27).

Cameras

Physical security is eligible once Level 1 Baseline Criteria are met. Check the criteria.

How VOLT fits

  • If you meet Level 1 already, camera-based safety can be a physical security item.
  • VOLT works with existing IP cameras.

Sources: PCCD Egrants open announcements · PCCD 2026-27 funding announcement (PDF) · PCCD Egrants funding announcement, sec. 2 (PDF) · PCCD Egrants funding announcement Q&A (PDF) · PCCD applicant webinar slides (PDF). Checked Oct 18, 2026.

More on PCCD: Pennsylvania PCCD grant and VOLT.

Background: Funding options for school security in Pennsylvania.

Federal programs open to Pennsylvania schools

JustGrants due Nov 6Cameras: not eligibleFederal

STOP School Violence Program (FY 2026)

U.S. DOJ, Bureau of Justice Assistance

Amount

Category 1 up to $2,000,000. Category 2 up to $1,000,000. About $111.1M in total.

No match required.

Next deadline

Grants.gov is closed. The JustGrants step is due Nov 6. Only applicants who filed the SF-424 in Grants.gov can complete it, by 8:59 pm ET.

What it funds

  • Training to prevent violence against others and self.
  • Threat assessment and intervention teams.
  • Anonymous reporting tools: apps, hotlines, websites.
  • Training for staff responding to mental health crises.

Who can apply

  • Category 1: states; public and state-controlled colleges.
  • Category 2: cities, counties, special districts, tribes, independent school districts, public charter schools, private K-12 schools (apply as nonprofits), private colleges, nonprofits.

Does not fund

  • Target-hardening equipment. BJA sends these requests to COPS SVPP.
  • New school resource officers or armed security.
  • Higher education campus violence projects. The FY 2026 NOFO lists these as unallowable, even though colleges can apply.

Cameras

Not for cameras. Security equipment is target hardening, which STOP does not fund.

How VOLT fits

  • STOP does not pay for VOLT. We say so up front.
  • Use STOP for training and reporting. Look at SVPP or your state program for camera work.

Full BJA STOP guide

Sources: BJA FY26 STOP solicitation page · BJA FY26 STOP NOFO (PDF) · BJA STOP School Violence Program overview. Checked Oct 18, 2026.

Closed for this cycleCameras: sometimesFederal

COPS School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP)

U.S. DOJ, COPS Office

Amount

Up to $500,000 per award, over 36 months. Up to $73M in FY26. Microgrants up to $100,000.

At least 25% local cash match, unless a waiver is approved.

Next deadline

FY26 closed Aug 11, 2026. Awards on or after Oct 1, 2026. The FY26 NOFO opened June 9; FY27 is not announced yet.

What it funds

  • Technology for expedited notification of local law enforcement in an emergency.
  • Metal detectors, locks, lighting and other deterrents.
  • Coordination with local law enforcement.
  • Training for local officers to prevent school violence.
  • School safety assessments (an allowable cost, and required for every school in the project if awarded).

Who can apply

  • States, local governments, tribes and their public agencies.
  • Includes school districts, public charter schools and school boards. Private schools cannot be the main applicant.

Cameras

The FY26 Resource Guide lists security cameras and systems, and software for up to 36 months, as allowable when tied to the project. COPS reviews each item.

How VOLT fits

  • Existing IP cameras can connect over RTSP. A camera compatibility review confirms the specific setup.
  • It flags someone who needs help or a visible weapon.
  • A VOLT reviewer checks a moment by default before staff are notified.
  • COPS decides what is allowable.

Full COPS SVPP guide

Sources: COPS FY26 SVPP NOFO (PDF) · COPS FY26 SVPP Application Resource Guide (PDF) · COPS FY26 SVPP fact sheet (PDF) · COPS Office grants and awards. Checked Oct 18, 2026.

Ask us for help with your application

  • Tell us your state and the program (PA PCCD, STOP or SVPP).
  • We help with the technology section and budget.
  • We tell you plainly if VOLT is not a fit for that program.
  • Not sure where to start? Take the 2-minute readiness assessment.

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Questions

Can PA PCCD pay for security cameras?

Physical security is eligible once Level 1 Baseline Criteria are met. Check the criteria. Closed Oct 30, 2026 in Egrants. Watch PCCD for the next round.

Are there federal grants for Pennsylvania schools?

Yes. BJA STOP (Grants.gov closed Oct 30, 2026; JustGrants step due Nov 6, 2026) funds training and reporting tools, not cameras. COPS SVPP funds emergency notification technology; its next round is not announced yet.

Will VOLT help with my application?

Yes. Tell us your program and we will help with the technology section and budget.

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