INDIANAPOLIS — In light of the recent tragedy in Oregon and the continuing safety threat across the country, Governor Mike Pence has directed that an additional $3.5 million be added to the Secured School Safety Grant Program, increasing the funding available for the current year to more than $9 million. 

“Indiana was one of the first states to establish and fund a statewide program specifically designed with school safety in mind, and these additional funds will help ensure that Hoosier schools have resource officers to provide onsite security and quickly respond to threats,” said Governor Pence. “Providing resources to create and maintain protected school campuses for Indiana’s students is critical to the well-being of our state and its citizens. We have no higher priority than to ensure the security of our children and faculty at our schools.”

The Indiana General Assembly established the Secured School Grant Fund in 2013 to increase the safety capabilities of Hoosier schools. The program is a dedicated state grant fund that provides matching grants to school corporations, charter schools or a coalition of school corporations and charter schools.

The funds are intended to be used to fund school resource officers to provide armed and onsite protection at a school, equipment to restrict access to school property as well as expedite notification to local law enforcement and first responders, and to conduct threat assessments at schools to determine if there are any gaps in school security or safety that need to be addressed.

Public school corporations, charter schools, or coalitions with an average daily membership of at least 1,000 students applied for grants up to $50,000 per year. Eligible entities with an ADM of less than 1,000 students applied for grants of up to $35,000 per year.