The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) has awarded $12 million in School Security Equipment Grants to 96 school divisions and 472 schools to help protect students, faculty and staff, and visitors.

Virginia is one of many states throughout the country, including Pennsylvania, New York, Louisiana, and Missouri, that have invested millions of dollars into school security amid rising concerns about safety.

“Every child deserves a high-quality education experience, one where they can deeply focus on learning and growing the minute they step onto a school bus or pass through the doors of their school,” said Virginia Superintendent of Public Instruction Lisa Coons. “These grants help create safe, supportive environments, both on school grounds and while traveling to and from school.”

Most of the equipment applied and approved for purchase include voice and video internal communication systems, mass notification systems, security card access systems, visitor ID badging systems, surveillance cameras, two-way radios, security vestibules, interior bus cameras, and bus two-way radios. The 2024-2025 school year grants have been awarded on a competitive basis, with each awarded school divisions eligible to receive grant awards up to $250,000.

The 472 schools were awarded funds based on a rank ordering of applications’ point total on the competitive application criteria. The criteria developed by VDOE and the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services gives priority to schools most in need of modern security equipment, schools with relatively high numbers of offenses, schools with equipment needs identified by a school security audit, and schools in divisions least able to afford security upgrades.

The full list of grantees is available here.

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