SUBCHAPTER VII—SAFE SCHOOLS

§5961. Short title; statement of purpose

(a) Short title

This subchapter may be cited as the "Safe Schools Act of 1994".

(b) Statement of purpose

It is the purpose of this subchapter to help local school systems achieve Goal Six ¹ of the National Education Goals, which provides that by the year 2000, every school in America will be free of drugs and violence and will offer a disciplined environment conducive to learning, by ensuring that all schools are safe and free of violence.

(Pub. L. 103–227, title VII, §701, Mar. 31, 1994, 108 Stat. 204.)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This subchapter, referred to in text, was in the original "this title", meaning title VII of Pub. L. 103–227, Mar. 31, 1994, 108 Stat. 204, which enacted this subchapter and amended section 1221e–1 of this title.

¹ So in original. Probably should be "Goal Seven".

§5962. Safe schools program authorized

(a) Authority

(1) In general

From funds appropriated pursuant to the authority of subsection (b)(1), the Secretary shall make competitive grants to eligible local educational agencies to enable such agencies to carry out projects and activities designed to achieve Goal Six ¹ of the National Education Goals by helping to ensure that all schools are safe and free of violence.

(2) Grant duration and amount

Grants under this subchapter may not exceed—

(A) two fiscal years in duration; and

(B) $3,000,000.

(3) Geographic distribution

To the extent practicable, grants under this subchapter shall be awarded to eligible local educational agencies serving rural, as well as urban, areas.

(b) Authorization of appropriations and reservation

(1) Authorization

There are authorized to be appropriated $50,000,000 for fiscal year 1994 to carry out this subchapter.

(2) Reservation

The Secretary is authorized in each fiscal year to reserve not more than 10 percent of the amount appropriated pursuant to the authority of paragraph (1) to carry out national activities described in section 5966 of this title, of which 50 percent of such amount shall be available in such fiscal year to carry out the program described in section 5966(b) of this title.

(Pub. L. 103–227, title VII, §702, Mar. 31, 1994, 108 Stat. 204.)

¹ So in original. Probably should be "Goal Seven".

§5963. Eligible applicants

(a) In general

To be eligible to receive a grant under this subchapter, a local educational agency shall demonstrate in the application submitted pursuant to section 5964(a) of this title that such agency—

(1) serves an area in which there is a high rate of—

(A) homicides committed by persons between the ages 5 to 18, inclusive;

(B) referrals of youth to juvenile court;

(C) youth under the supervision of the courts;

(D) expulsions and suspensions of students from school;

(E) referrals of youth, for disciplinary reasons, to alternative schools; or

(F) victimization of youth by violence, crime, or other forms of abuse; and

(2) has serious school crime, violence, and discipline problems, as indicated by other appropriate data.

(b) Priority

In awarding grants under this subchapter, the Secretary shall give priority to a local educational agency that submits an application that assures a strong local commitment to the projects or activities assisted under this subchapter, such as—

(1) the formation of partnerships among the local educational agency, a community-based organization, a nonprofit organization with a demonstrated commitment to or expertise in developing education programs or providing educational services to students or the public, a local law enforcement agency, or any combination thereof; and

(2) a high level of youth participation in such projects or activities.

(Pub. L. 103–227, title VII, §703, Mar. 31, 1994, 108 Stat. 205.)

§5964. Applications and plans

(a) Application

In order to receive a grant under this subchapter, an eligible local educational agency shall submit to the Secretary an application that includes—

(1) an assessment of the current violence and crime problems in the schools to be served by the grant and in the community to be served by the applicant;

(2) an assurance that the applicant has written policies regarding school safety, student discipline, and the appropriate handling of violent or disruptive acts;

(3) a description of the schools and communities to be served by the grant, the activities and projects to be carried out with grant funds, and how these activities and projects will help to reduce the current violence and crime problems in the schools and communities served;

(4) a description of educational materials to be developed in the first most predominate non-English language of the schools and communities to be served by the grant, if applicable;

(5) if the local educational agency receives Federal education funds, an explanation of how activities assisted under this subchapter will be coordinated with and support any systemic education improvement plan prepared with such funds;

(6) the applicant's plan to establish school-level advisory committees, which include faculty, parents, staff, and students, for each school to be served by the grant and a description of how each committee will assist in assessing that school's violence and discipline problems as well as in designing appropriate programs, policies, and practices to combat such problems;

(7) the applicant's plan for collecting baseline and future data, by individual schools, to monitor violence and discipline problems and to measure the applicant's progress in achieving the purpose of this subchapter;

(8) a description of how, in subsequent fiscal years, the grantee will integrate the violence prevention activities the grantee carries out with funds under this subchapter with activities carried out under the grantee's comprehensive plan for drug and violence prevention adopted under the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act of 1986;

(9) a description of how the grantee will coordinate the grantee's school crime and violence prevention efforts with education, law enforcement, judicial, health, and social service programs supported under the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974 [34 U.S.C. 11101 et seq.], and other appropriate agencies and organizations serving the community;

(10) a description of how the grantee will inform parents about the extent of crime and violence in their children's schools and maximize the participation of parents in the grantee's violence prevention activities;

(11) an assurance that grant funds under this subchapter will be used to supplement and not supplant State and local funds that would, in the absence of funds under this subchapter, be made available by the applicant for the purposes of the grant;

(12) an assurance that the applicant will cooperate with, and provide assistance to, the Secretary in gathering statistics and other data the Secretary determines are necessary to determine the effectiveness of projects and activities assisted under this subchapter or the extent of school violence and discipline problems throughout the Nation; and

(13) such other information as the Secretary may require.

(b) Plan

In order to receive funds under this subchapter for a second year, a grantee shall submit to the Secretary a comprehensive, long-term, school safety plan for reducing and preventing school violence and discipline problems. Such plan shall contain a description of how the grantee will coordinate the grantee's school crime and violence prevention efforts with education, law-enforcement, judicial, health, social service, and other appropriate agencies and organizations serving the community.

(Pub. L. 103–227, title VII, §704, Mar. 31, 1994, 108 Stat. 205.)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act of 1986, referred to in subsec. (a)(8), is title V of Pub. L. 89–10 as added by Pub. L. 100–297, title I, §1001, Apr. 28, 1988, 102 Stat. 252, which was classified generally to subchapter V (§3171 et seq.) of chapter 47 of this title, prior to the general amendment of Pub. L. 89–10 by Pub. L. 103–382, title I, §101, Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat. 3519.

The Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974, referred to in subsec. (a)(9), is Pub. L. 93–415, Sept. 7, 1974, 88 Stat. 1109, which is classified principally to chapter 111 (§11101 et seq.) of Title 34, Crime Control and Law Enforcement. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title of 1974 Act note set out under section 10101 of Title 34 and Tables.

§5965. Use of funds

(a) In general

A local educational agency shall use grant funds received under this subchapter for one or more of the following activities:

(1) Identifying and assessing school violence and discipline problems, including coordinating needs assessment activities with education, law enforcement, judicial, health, social service, and other appropriate agencies and organizations, juvenile justice programs, and gang prevention activities.

(2) Conducting school safety reviews or violence prevention reviews of programs, policies, practices, and facilities to determine what changes are needed to reduce or prevent violence and promote safety and discipline.

(3) Planning for comprehensive, long-term strategies for addressing and preventing school violence and discipline problems through the involvement and coordination of school programs with other education, law enforcement, judicial, health, social service, and other appropriate agencies and organizations.

(4) Training school personnel in programs of demonstrated effectiveness in addressing violence, including violence prevention, conflict resolution, anger management, peer mediation, and identification of high-risk youth.

(5) Activities which involve parents in efforts to promote school safety and prevent school violence.

(6) Community education programs, including video- and technology-based projects, informing parents, businesses, local government, the media and other appropriate entities about—

(A) the local educational agency's plan to promote school safety and reduce and prevent school violence and discipline problems; and

(B) the need for community support.

(7) Coordination of school-based activities designed to promote school safety and reduce or prevent school violence and discipline problems with related efforts of education, law enforcement, judicial, health, social service, and other appropriate agencies and organizations and juvenile justice programs.

(8) Developing and implementing violence prevention activities and materials, including—

(A) conflict resolution and social skills development for students, teachers, aides, other school personnel, and parents;

(B) disciplinary alternatives to expulsion and suspension of students who exhibit violent or antisocial behavior;

(C) student-led activities such as peer mediation, peer counseling, and student courts; or

(D) alternative after-school programs that provide safe havens for students, which may include cultural, recreational, educational and instructional activities, and mentoring and community service programs.

(9) Educating students and parents regarding the dangers of guns and other weapons and the consequences of their use.

(10) Developing and implementing innovative curricula to prevent violence in schools and training staff how to stop disruptive or violent behavior if such behavior occurs.

(11) Supporting "safe zones of passage" for students between home and school through such measures as Drug- and Weapon-Free School Zones, enhanced law enforcement, and neighborhood patrols.

(12) Counseling programs for victims and witnesses of school violence and crime.

(13) Acquiring and installing metal detectors and hiring security personnel.

(14) Reimbursing law enforcement authorities for their personnel who participate in school violence prevention activities.

(15) Evaluating projects and activities assisted under this subchapter.

(16) The cost of administering projects or activities assisted under this subchapter.

(17) Other projects or activities that meet the purpose of this subchapter.

(b) Limitations

(1) In general

A local educational agency may use not more than—

(A) a total of 5 percent of grant funds received under this subchapter in each fiscal year for activities described in paragraphs (11), (13), and (14) of subsection (a); and

(B) 5 percent of grant funds received under this subchapter in each fiscal year for activities described in paragraph (16) of subsection (a).

(2) Special rule

A local educational agency shall only be able to use grant funds received under this subchapter for activities described in paragraphs (11), (13), and (14) of subsection (a) if funding for such activities is not available from other Federal sources.

(3) Prohibition

A local educational agency may not use grant funds received under this subchapter for construction.

(Pub. L. 103–227, title VII, §705, Mar. 31, 1994, 108 Stat. 206.)

§5966. National activities

(a) National activities

(1) In general

To carry out the purpose of this subchapter, the Secretary—

(A) is authorized to use funds reserved under section 5962(b)(2) of this title to—

(i) conduct national leadership activities such as research, program development and evaluation, data collection, public awareness activities, training and technical assistance, dissemination (through appropriate research entities assisted by the Department of Education) of information on successful projects, activities, and strategies developed pursuant to this subchapter;

(ii) provide grants to noncommercial telecommunications entities for the production and distribution of national video-based projects that provide young people with models for conflict resolution and responsible decisionmaking; and

(iii) conduct peer review of applications under this subchapter; and

(B) shall develop a written safe schools model so that all schools can develop models that enable all students to participate regardless of any language barrier.

(2) Special rule

The Secretary may carry out the activities described in paragraph (1) directly, through interagency agreements, or through grants, contracts or cooperative agreements.

(b) National model city

The Secretary shall designate the District of Columbia as a national model city and shall provide funds made available pursuant to section 5962(b)(2) of this title in each fiscal year to a local educational agency serving the District of Columbia in an amount sufficient to enable such agency to carry out a comprehensive program to address school and youth violence.

(Pub. L. 103–227, title VII, §706, Mar. 31, 1994, 108 Stat. 208.)

§5967. Reports

(a) Report to Secretary

Each local educational agency that receives funds under this subchapter shall submit to the Secretary a report not later than March 1, 1995, that describes progress achieved in carrying out the plan described in section 5964(b) of this title.

(b) Report to Congress

The Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Labor and Human Resources of the Senate a report not later than October 1, 1995, which shall contain a detailed statement regarding grant awards, activities of grant recipients, a compilation of statistical information submitted by applicants under section 5964(a) of this title, and an evaluation of programs assisted under this subchapter.

(Pub. L. 103–227, title VII, §708, Mar. 31, 1994, 108 Stat. 209.)

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

Committee on Education and Labor of House of Representatives changed to Committee on Education and the Workforce of House of Representatives by House Resolution No. 5, One Hundred Eighteenth Congress, Jan. 9, 2023.

Committee on Labor and Human Resources of Senate changed to Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of Senate by Senate Resolution No. 20, One Hundred Sixth Congress, Jan. 19, 1999.

§5968. Coordination of Federal assistance

The Secretary, as a member of the Coordinating Council on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention of the Department of Justice, shall coordinate the programs and activities carried out under this subchapter with the programs and activities carried out by the departments and offices represented within the Council that provide assistance under other Federal law for purposes that are determined by the Secretary to be similar to the purpose of this subchapter, in order to avoid redundancy and coordinate Federal assistance, research, and programs for youth violence prevention.

(Pub. L. 103–227, title VII, §709, Mar. 31, 1994, 108 Stat. 209.)