Indiana DHS Offers Secured School Safety Grant
Indiana schools should not miss this opportunity to upgrade or install fire safety, door access, surveillance cameras, and security-critical communication systems (i.e., a new Intercom/PA system) systems.
The Indiana Secured School Safety Grant (SSSG) program was created in 2013 and codified by Indiana Code 10-21. The legislation was established to increase the safety of Indiana schools. The SSSG program is a dedicated state fund that provides matching grants to school corporations, accredited non-public schools, charter schools and coalitions of school corporations.
Program Overview
The SSSG program is an allocated state fund that provides matching grants to school corporations, accredited non-public schools, charter schools and coalitions of school corporations. SSSG funds may be used to:
Employ a school resource officer (SRO) or law enforcement officer (LEO).
Conduct a site vulnerability assessment and/or critical incident digital mapping.
Purchase equipment, hardware, materials and technology to:
Restrict access to school property and classrooms; or
Assist with visitor management on school property; or
Expedite notification of first responders; or
Expedite access to school property for first responders; or
Provide school staff with information about the open or closed status of interior and exterior doors; or
Detect fire, chemical, visual, or audible threats; or
Enhance emergency communications inside the building; or
Assist with emergency medical response on school property.
Implement a student and parent support services plan.
Purchase or provide training for a canine trained to detect drugs and illegal substances, explosives or firearms, or to otherwise provide protection for students and school employees.
Provide funding for school employees to receive training, including expenses for per diem, travel and lodging related to eligible training.
Provide funding for school resource officer or law enforcement officer to receive training, including expenses for per diem, travel and lodging, related to handling a trained canine.
Design and construct additions or renovations on school property if the primary purpose is to enhance the physical security of the school building.
Implement a bullying prevention program.
Purchase a one-time non-matching grant to enable school corporations to work with their sheriff to provide the initial set up costs for an active event warning system.
Provide a response to a threat in a manner that the school corporation or charter school sees fit, including firearms training (curriculum now defined) or other self-defense training or securing funds for counseling in the event of a school shooting.
Purchase student safety management technology.
Additional Information
School Resource Officer (SRO) qualifications: To qualify for funding through SSSG, an SRO must be a graduate of the Indiana Law Enforcement Training Board (LETB) basic training program per Indiana Code (IC 5-2-1-9), have received (or is in the process of receiving) 40 hours of SRO training through the LETB, the National Association of School Resource Officers or another program approved by the LETB, be assigned to one or more school corporations, private or charter schools, and be currently employed/appointed by a law enforcement agency. Also, following 2019 legislative changes, SSSG is now able to reimburse schools for employing a law enforcement officer and/or entering into a MOU with local law enforcement agency for a LEO to serve in schools. SSSG will reimburse for salary and fringe benefits for LEO staff. Schools are also able to apply for the LEO to take the 40-hour BASIC SRO training and become a certified SRO, if applicable.
Below are the funding and match formulas reflecting 2019 legislation. Schools of any average daily membership (ADM) or pupil enrollment may apply for up to $100,000 in grant funds. If the school chooses to apply for grant funding, it will be required to match the grant funds at a percentage related to the school’s ADM or pupil enrollment and the amount of grant funding requested.
Average Daily Membership Funding
1-500 up to $35,000 at 25% match or
up to $50,000 at 50% match or
up to $100,000 at 100% match
501 - 1,000 up to $50,000 at 50% match or
up to $100,000 at 100% match
More than 1,000 or Coalition up to $100,000 at 100% match
Eligibility
The following two requirements must be met before starting a Secured School Safety grant application.
Memorandum of Understanding With a Community Mental Health Center
Indiana Code 10-21-1-5(d) requires that "each school corporation, charter school, or accredited nonpublic school shall certify to the department of homeland security that the school corporation, charter school, or accredited nonpublic school has a memorandum of understanding in place with a community mental health center established under IC 12-29-2 or provider certified or licensed by the state to provide mental or behavioral health services to students before applying for a grant under this chapter. A provider described in this subsection may be employed by the school corporation, charter school, or accredited nonpublic school."
Site Vulnerability Assessment
Indiana Code 10-21-1-5(c) requires that each school corporation, charter school, or accredited nonpublic school shall certify to the department of homeland security that the school corporation, charter school, or accredited nonpublic school has conducted a site vulnerability assessment for each school building used by the school corporation, charter school, or accredited nonpublic school before applying for a grant under this chapter.
