Jefferson City News

Governor Mike Parson has announced that 566 school districts, charter schools, and nonpublic schools have been awarded funds from the second round of the School Safety Grant Program. This initiative is part of a broader effort to enhance security measures in educational institutions across Missouri.

"Improving the safety and security of our schools is an issue we can all support, and these grants help ensure our schools remain safe environments for Missouri children to learn," stated Governor Parson. He emphasized the importance of being prepared for potential threats and having appropriate resources and response plans in place. "This second round of school safety grants continues our commitment to doing just that and helping keep kids safe."

The program received an additional $50 million in funding as part of the Fiscal Year 2024 budget, approved by Governor Parson. The grants are intended to support various safety improvements such as physical security upgrades, door locks, monitoring systems, bleeding control kits, epinephrine auto-injectors, and automatic external defibrillators. Nonpublic schools were also eligible for this round of funding.

In the previous fiscal year (2023), $20 million was distributed among 169 school districts and charter schools during the first round of grants.

Commissioner of Education Margie Vandeven expressed gratitude towards state leadership: "Missouri families continue to tell education leaders that ensuring their child’s school remains safe and secure is their biggest concern. We thank Governor Parson and the General Assembly for their ongoing support and commitment to ensuring our schools remain among the safest places for our students."

The grant application process was competitive, with applications submitted through the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). The maximum grant amount awarded was $300,000.