The Georgia Department of Education’s Office of Whole Child Supports has announced the release of a $4.5 million grant opportunity provided by the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC) to provide funding for School Resource Officer (SRO) training on school safety, use-of-force, de-escalation, and mental health. The grant was released on July 15, 2022, and will close on August 15, 2022. The Criminal Justice Coordinating Council has posted the grant opportunity on the Current Funding Opportunities page of its website.
CJCC has awarded $2.6 million from the Law Enforcement Training Grant Program to the Georgia Public Safety Training Center (GPSTC) to enhance its SRO training. These funds will increase instructor capacity and further grow the number of courses available for local SROs. CJCC has also awarded $182,000 in federal grant funds to GPSTC for the purchase of 210 tactical kits for SROs as part of the Single Officer Response to an Active Threat training.
CJCC will set aside $1 million in Byrne Justice Assistance Grant funds to support statewide school safety efforts. These dollars may be utilized for regional school safety trainings and safety operation quick reference guides for professional development of SRO instructors, course expansions, and more. Details regarding access to these funds will be forthcoming.
CJCC has partnered with the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency, Georgia Public Safety Training Center, and Georgia Department of Education to apply for two federal grant applications requesting $3 million. If awarded, these funds will provide additional training for school staff and SROs and create an opportunity for schools to receive funding to improve school climates through intervention and prevention programs.
