2019–2021 School Safety and Security Grant

Grant Opportunity and Application Deadline
The 2019–2021 School Safety and Security Grant is authorized by Senate Bill 500, Section 32, 86th Texas Legislature. The request for applications (RFA) is available on the TEA Grant Opportunities Page. To submit an application, go to the TEA Grant Opportunities page to access the 2019-2021 School Safety and Security grant application. To find the grant application, select “state” for funding type and “2019-2020” for school year in the Search Options box. This will narrow your search to a page where the “2019-2021 School Safety and Security Grant” will be listed near the bottom. Once you have selected the grant, you can open the application parts 1 and 2 template in the Application and Support Information section and complete and submit the application. 

Applications must be received by the Texas Education Agency by 5:00 p.m. (Central Time), January 22, 2020, to be considered for funding.
Public schools, including independent school districts, open-enrollment charter schools, the School for the Blind and Visually Impaired and the School for the Deaf, are eligible for funding. An eligibility list with allocations is posted on the TEA Grant Opportunities web page.

Errata Posted
An errata was posted on the TEA Grant Opportunities web page on November 22, 2019, to provide clarity and additional flexibility on the use of funds. The errata notice revises the following sections of the RFA. Underlined text indicates new guidance issued in the errata:

• Program Purpose, Goals, and Objectives, Program Guidelines, page 6 of 9:
  
  $100,000,000 is appropriated to the Texas Education Agency to provide funding to public schools, including the School for the Blind and Visually Impaired and the School for the Deaf for additional safety and security equipment (campus hardening) such as: (1) exterior doors with push bars; (2) metal detectors at school entrances; (3) erected vehicle barriers; (4) security systems that monitor and record school entrances, exits, and hallways; (5) campus-wide active shooter alarm systems that are separate from fire alarms; (6) two-way radio systems; (7) perimeter security fencing; (8) bullet-resistant glass or film for school entrances; and (9) door-locking systems.
   
• Supplement, Not Supplant, Program Guidelines, page 6 of 9:
  
  The supplement, not supplant provision as generally referenced, does not apply to this grant program. For this state-funded grant program, the term ‘supplemental’ means funds may be expended for any equipment planned for and purchased after January 1, 2019, regardless of what fund sources may have been expended on prior safety and security equipment purchases.
   
• Pre-Award Costs, Program Guidelines, page 7 of 9:
  
  Pre-award costs are permitted, if requested, from January 1, 2019, to stamp-in date.
   
• Unallowable Activities and Use of Funds, Program Guidelines, pages 8-9 of 9:
  
  Additional Unallowable Activities and Use of Funds have been added or revised, including:
  • Maintenance, repairs, or replacement (with equal specifications) of existing safety/security equipment
  • Training, unless a documented part of a larger security system or active shooter alarm system and only specific to the implementation of the system
  • Training required by other statutes or regulations
  • Active shooter training, unless a documented part of a larger active shooter alarm system and only specific to the implementation of the active shooter alarm system
  • Mental health activities or training

For details, refer to the full errata notice posted on the TEA Grant Opportunities web page. 

Frequently Asked Questions Posted
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) were posted on the TEA Grant Opportunities web page on November 22, 2019. FAQs supersede all grant guidance previously provided.

If you have any further questions, please email grantsupport@tea.texas.gov.