See VOLT at your school

School Safety Grants / Virginia

Virginia school safety grants

  • A yearly competitive equipment grant through VDOE, plus federal programs.
  • What each one funds, and whether cameras qualify.
  • Official sources on every program.
BJA STOP15 days leftOct 30

Checked October 15, 2026. Confirm dates before you apply.

Virginia programs

Closed for this cycleCameras: sometimesVA

School Security Equipment Grant (SEGM)

Virginia Department of Education (VDOE)

Amount

Up to $250,000 per school division per year (VDOE, 2026-27). $12M funded for 2026-27.

25% local match. Reduced for divisions with a composite index below 0.2000.

Next deadline

2026-27 window closed Aug 1, 2026. By statute, apply by Aug 1 each year (VDOE opened July 1 in 2026).

What it funds

  • Security equipment and installation on VDOE's List of Allowable Equipment.
  • Equipment must be bought and installed within six months of award.

Who can apply

  • Virginia public school divisions and regional programs.

Cameras

Only items on VDOE's allowable equipment list. Check the current list.

How VOLT fits

  • Confirm on VDOE's list whether camera software qualifies before you plan on it.
  • VOLT works with the cameras you have. We can help you check.

Sources: VDOE Security Equipment Grants · Va. Code § 22.1-280.2:2 · VDOE update, July 16, 2026. Checked Oct 15, 2026.

Federal programs open to Virginia schools

Open nowCameras: 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: Oct 30, 2026, 11:59 pm ET. JustGrants: Nov 6, 2026, 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, tribes, independent school districts, private and public charter schools, 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.

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.

Sources: BJA FY26 STOP solicitation page · BJA FY26 STOP NOFO (PDF). Checked Oct 15, 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.

Who can apply

  • States, local governments, tribes and their public agencies.
  • Public agencies can include school districts. Check the NOFO.

Cameras

Fits when the project speeds up notifying law enforcement in an emergency.

How VOLT fits

  • VOLT runs on the cameras you already have.
  • It flags someone who needs help or a visible weapon.
  • By default, a VOLT reviewer checks it before your team is notified.
  • That maps to the "expedited notification" purpose area.

Sources: COPS FY26 SVPP NOFO (PDF) · COPS FY26 SVPP fact sheet (PDF) · COPS Office grants and awards. Checked Oct 15, 2026.

Ask us for help with your application

  • Tell us your state and the program (VA Security Equipment, 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.

Questions

Can VA Security Equipment pay for security cameras?

Only items on VDOE's allowable equipment list. Check the current list. 2026-27 window closed Aug 1, 2026. By statute, apply by Aug 1 each year (VDOE opened July 1 in 2026).

Are there federal grants for Virginia schools?

Yes. BJA STOP is open now for 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.

Other states

PennsylvaniaOhioTexasNew York

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