With school violence, including school shootings and other types of active threat scenarios, on the rise, it’s more important than ever for schools to find ways to improve safety and security for students, teachers, and other staff.
One option available to schools that are short on funding is to apply for a school security grant. These types of grants are available across the country and can provide significant financial aid to schools that need it for improving their active threat preparedness.
Where Do School Security Grants Come From?
School security grants are funded by various US government organizations, such as the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Bureau for Justice Assistance (BJA).
In fact, in October 2022, the DOJ announced that it would award around $190 million in new grant funding to support school safety and security.
These grants are specifically managed by the DOJ’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP) and Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS).
Acting director of the COPS, Robert Chapman, had the following to say:
“Supporting efforts to strengthen the safety of our nation’s school children has been and will continue to be a priority for the COPS Office. The grants announced today not only provide physical security enhancements and training but also take into account the need to do so while maintaining a positive learning environment.”
What can school security grants be used for?
School security grants can be used at the discretion of schools to implement a range of different safety and security measures.
Here are some specific examples of what school security grant funding could go towards:
- Training for school personnel and students
- Threat assessments
- Violence prevention technology systems
- Coordination with local law enforcement
- Metal detectors
- Locks
- Lighting
- Surveillance cameras
- Access control systems
- Security personnel
- Security glazing
What’s the Best Way To Put a School Security Grant To Use?
No matter what type of security system we’re talking about, it’s important to have a combination of security measures in place to deter and prevent all types of crime.
However, things like locks, lighting, cameras, and other deterrents don’t do the one most important thing when it comes to active threat protection: create physical barriers to forced entry.
Many schools are full of windows and doors with glass components, which are great for creating a positive learning environment but also incredibly vulnerable to forced entry.
A violent intruder can simply smash or shoot out a pane of glass to open a door from the inside or climb in through a window and gain entry to a school.
This is why we can’t stress enough the importance of utilizing polycarbonate security glazing in schools to provide access denial and prevent armed intruders from gaining entry to classrooms and other areas where they seek to harm those inside.
Polycarbonate security glazing retrofits are school security grant-friendly
Considering that many schools have such a large amount of glazing, replacing it all with forced entry-resistant or bullet-resistant glass can be prohibitively expensive.
However, there is a more affordable, cost-effective alternative: a polycarbonate security glazing retrofit.
Because polycarbonate is lighter and thinner than other types of security glass, it can be retrofitted into or onto almost any existing framing system, without the need to remove and replace the existing glass.
This type of polycarbonate glazing looks and feels very much like traditional window glass, yet it’s virtually unbreakable.
The polycarbonate creates a barrier over the existing class that prevents forced entry, but it doesn’t make the building look fortified. This is very important for fostering open, inviting learning environments in schools.
When combined with other components of a comprehensive school security system, such as modern door locks and access control systems, polycarbonate security glazing is one of the best ways to protect students and staff from active threats in schools.
Is polycarbonate security glazing bulletproof?
Polycarbonate security glazing is available in both containment-grade (non-ballistic) and ballistic-grade (bullet-resistant) varieties.
Bullet-resistant polycarbonate glazing shields come in a range of thicknesses and compositions and are rated according to the UL 752 ballistic resistance levels, which indicate how many rounds they can stop from specific types of firearms.
For example, polycarbonate with a UL 725 level 8 rating is capable of stopping multiple military-style rounds from an AK-47 assault rifle.
However, it’s important to note that even non-ballistic polycarbonate will not break apart, diminish in strength, or allow any part of an attacker’s body to pass through if it’s penetrated by bullets.
Therefore, containment-grade polycarbonate glazing shields are still a very effective way to create access denial barriers in schools and keep the bad guys out of classrooms and other areas. Even prolonged attacks with heavy hand tools will just bounce right off these barriers.
Start with a school threat assessment
Putting some of your school security funding towards a professional threat assessment is the best way to determine what type of security glazing is best for your school’s security needs and budget, and where to put it to maximize school safety and security.
In a threat assessment, a security expert will walk through your facility to identify security vulnerabilities and come up with actionable recommendations for improving security, especially when it comes to active threat mitigation.
Final Words
Every student deserves to learn in a safe and secure environment. But, unfortunately, the reality is that many schools are unprepared for active threats, and thus the lives of students and staff are put at risk.
To mitigate the risks of school violence, schools must focus on improving physical security. But because schools oftentimes already have their budgets stretched thin, it may be necessary to seek out additional funding to do so.
Fortunately, there is plenty of school security grant funding available to eligible schools, which is definitely worth looking into if needed.
Once you have your funding secured, Campbell Glass and Films is here to help you with all your school security glazing needs. Contact us whenever you’re ready for a free consultation.
