Opportunity Information: Apply for O COPS 2026 172540
The FY26 COPS School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP) is a competitive federal grant opportunity offered by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office). The program is designed to help jurisdictions strengthen safety and security at schools and on school grounds by supporting evidence-based school safety efforts. In practical terms, SVPP funding is meant to help communities put in place or improve measures that reduce the risk of school violence, aligned with broader community policing and prevention goals.
For FY26, the COPS Office anticipates making up to $73,000,000 available nationwide. Individual awards can be as large as $500,000, and the program expects to make roughly 200 awards. The grant period of performance is 36 months, with an anticipated start date of October 1, 2026. Applications are due by August 4, 2026. This is a discretionary grant (not a formula entitlement), meaning proposals are scored and selected competitively based on the NOFO criteria.
A key planning issue for applicants is the required local cost share. Recipients must provide at least a 25 percent match, and the match must be cash (not in-kind), unless the applicant requests a match waiver and that waiver is approved. Applicants should plan early for budgeting, approvals, and documentation showing they can meet the match requirement, since cost share issues can affect both application competitiveness and post-award compliance.
Eligible applicants include state governments, units of local government (such as counties, cities, or townships), Indian Tribes, and their public agencies. The program specifically includes public school districts as eligible entities, including public charter schools when they operate as part of a school district, and even school districts that contain only a single school. School boards and law enforcement agencies are also eligible. However, individual schools that are not operating as a school district are not eligible to apply as the primary applicant, and independent schools and private schools (including private charter schools) are not eligible to apply as primary applicants.
SVPP also places strong emphasis on collaboration and a comprehensive prevention approach. Under 34 U.S.C. 10552(a)(1)-(2), each application must include an assurance that the proposal was developed after consultation with a broad group of stakeholders. The NOFO highlights that consultation should involve more than law enforcement and may include licensed mental health professionals, social workers, students, parents, school violence researchers or academics (when practical), teachers, principals, and other school staff. The intent is to ensure funded activities fit into a well-rounded school violence prevention strategy, are tailored to the needs of each school site, protect student privacy, and avoid discrimination based on race, national origin, disability, religion, or sex.
Finally, state and local governmental entities applying for or receiving funds must comply with 8 U.S.C. 1373. This federal provision requires that a state or local government entity may not prohibit or restrict its officials from sharing, receiving, maintaining, or exchanging information regarding an individual’s citizenship or immigration status with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security or other government entities. Applicants should be prepared to certify compliance and ensure local policies do not conflict with this requirement.
In short, FY26 SVPP is a major school safety funding opportunity administered by the DOJ COPS Office, offering up to $500,000 per award over three years, with a cash match requirement, and with eligibility focused on public entities (including school districts, school boards, and law enforcement). Successful applications will show strong stakeholder consultation, a privacy- and civil rights-conscious approach, and clear readiness to meet the program’s fiscal and legal compliance expectations.Apply for O COPS 2026 172540
- The Community Oriented Policing Services in the law, justice and legal services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY26 COPS School Violence Prevention Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 16.071.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-06-09.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-08-04. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $500,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 200 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Independent school districts, Others.
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FY26 COPS School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP) FAQs
What is the FY26 COPS School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP)?
The FY26 COPS School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP) is a competitive federal grant opportunity offered by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office). It is designed to help jurisdictions strengthen safety and security at schools and on school grounds by supporting evidence-based school safety efforts that reduce the risk of school violence and align with broader community policing and prevention goals.
How much funding is available under FY26 SVPP?
For FY26, the COPS Office anticipates making up to $73,000,000 available nationwide.
What is the maximum award amount per recipient?
Individual awards can be as large as $500,000.
About how many awards does the program expect to make?
The program expects to make roughly 200 awards.
Is SVPP a competitive grant or a formula/entitlement program?
SVPP is a discretionary (competitive) grant, not a formula entitlement. Proposals are scored and selected competitively based on the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) criteria.
What is the SVPP period of performance?
The grant period of performance is 36 months.
When does the FY26 SVPP grant period start?
The anticipated start date is October 1, 2026.
When are applications due?
Applications are due by August 4, 2026.
What is the required match (cost share) for SVPP?
Recipients must provide at least a 25 percent match. The match must be cash (not in-kind), unless the applicant requests a match waiver and that waiver is approved.
Can the required match be in-kind?
No. The match must be cash, not in-kind, unless a match waiver is requested and approved.
Is it possible to get a match waiver?
Yes. The match may be waived only if the applicant requests a match waiver and that waiver is approved.
Why is early planning for the match important?
Applicants are advised to plan early for budgeting, approvals, and documentation demonstrating they can meet the match requirement. Cost share issues can affect application competitiveness and post-award compliance.
Who is eligible to apply for FY26 SVPP?
Eligible applicants include state governments, units of local government (such as counties, cities, or townships), Indian Tribes, and their public agencies. The program also includes public school districts as eligible entities (including those that contain only a single school), school boards, and law enforcement agencies.
Are public school districts eligible, including districts with only one school?
Yes. Public school districts are eligible, including school districts that contain only a single school.
Are public charter schools eligible to apply?
Public charter schools are eligible when they operate as part of a school district.
Can an individual school apply as the primary applicant?
No. Individual schools that are not operating as a school district are not eligible to apply as the primary applicant.
Are private schools eligible to apply as primary applicants?
No. Independent schools and private schools (including private charter schools) are not eligible to apply as primary applicants.
Are school boards eligible applicants?
Yes. School boards are listed as eligible applicants.
Are law enforcement agencies eligible applicants?
Yes. Law enforcement agencies are listed as eligible applicants.
What does SVPP require regarding stakeholder consultation?
Each application must include an assurance that the proposal was developed after consultation with a broad group of stakeholders, as described under 34 U.S.C. 10552(a)(1)-(2). The NOFO emphasizes that consultation should involve more than law enforcement and should support a comprehensive prevention approach.
Who should be included in the stakeholder consultation process?
The NOFO indicates that consultation may include licensed mental health professionals, social workers, students, parents, school violence researchers or academics (when practical), teachers, principals, and other school staff, in addition to law enforcement.
Why does SVPP emphasize collaboration and a comprehensive prevention approach?
The intent is to ensure funded activities fit into a well-rounded school violence prevention strategy, are tailored to the needs of each school site, protect student privacy, and avoid discrimination based on race, national origin, disability, religion, or sex.
What privacy and civil rights considerations are highlighted in SVPP?
The program emphasizes that funded activities should protect student privacy and avoid discrimination based on race, national origin, disability, religion, or sex.
Does SVPP require compliance with 8 U.S.C. 1373?
Yes. State and local governmental entities applying for or receiving funds must comply with 8 U.S.C. 1373.
What does 8 U.S.C. 1373 require?
It requires that a state or local government entity may not prohibit or restrict its officials from sharing, receiving, maintaining, or exchanging information regarding an individual's citizenship or immigration status with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security or other government entities.
What should applicants do to address the 8 U.S.C. 1373 requirement?
Applicants should be prepared to certify compliance and ensure local policies do not conflict with the requirement.
What are the main factors a strong SVPP application should demonstrate based on the program description?
Based on the information provided, strong applications should demonstrate: (1) eligibility as a public entity (including school districts, school boards, and law enforcement, as applicable), (2) meaningful stakeholder consultation beyond law enforcement, (3) a comprehensive, prevention-oriented approach tailored to school-site needs, (4) attention to student privacy and nondiscrimination, and (5) readiness to meet the cash match requirement and related fiscal documentation, along with required legal compliance (including 8 U.S.C. 1373 for applicable governmental entities).
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