# The Safer Schools Act of 2021

This bill creates a federal grant program to help public schools improve their physical security. The federal government would provide money to schools so they can hire experts to evaluate their security weaknesses and then make upgrades like better locks, cameras, alarm systems, and visitor management technology.

The program works in two parts. First, schools can apply for grants to pay for independent security assessments—basically hiring qualified professionals to walk through the building and identify vulnerabilities like weak entry points or gaps in surveillance. Second, schools can apply for larger grants to actually fix the problems that the assessments uncover. For the security improvements, schools would need to match at least half the federal funding with their own money, though the Attorney General can waive this requirement if a school can't afford it. The bill sets aside 30 percent of funding for assessments and 70 percent for actual improvements.

Schools that have experienced violent incidents where someone tried to harm multiple people get priority for these grants, and they can reapply even if they received funding recently. The bill also requires schools to install silent panic alarms directly connected to local police if they don't already have them. Schools receiving grants must report back on how many security problems they fixed and whether students feel safer afterward. The entire program runs for five years, with funding starting at $100 million in year one and growing to $300 million annually by year three.

Safer Schools Act of 2021

Williams, Roger

Safer Schools Act of 2021 This bill establishes a pilot program through which the Department of Justice must award grants to public elementary and secondary schools to conduct independent facility security risk assessments and make hard security improvements (e.g., video monitoring and alert notification equipment).