West Chester, Pa (June 16, 2026) – Six nonpublic schools serving students in Chester County were recently awarded state funding to help prevent school violence and improve student mental health, State Senator Carolyn Comitta said today.
The funding, made available through the Targeted School Safety for Nonpublic Schools Grant Program, supports programs and projects that enhance school security, including costs associated with the training and compensation of school security personnel.
“I cannot think of anything more precious than the health, safety, and well-being of our children and young people. These investments can help strengthen security for schools serving students with special needs and prevent violence at private and nonpublic schools within our communities,” said Comitta, who serves on the Senate Education Committee. “Every student deserves to feel safe in school and every parent deserves the peace of mind that their child’s school is safe and secure.”
The grants, approved by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) School Safety and Security Committee, are as follows:
- $17,933 for the Royer-Greaves School for the Blind
- $75,000 for the Vanguard School
- $24,490 for Sts. Phillip & James School
- $15,785 for St. Norbert School
- $50,400 for Bishop Shanahan High School
- $67,500 for Devon Preparatory School
The Chester County investments were part of 353 projects selected from 405 eligible grant applications, totaling nearly $20 million in funding.
“PCCD’s newly established Office of School Safety and Security is committed to ensuring that all Pennsylvania schools — public and private — have the tools and support they need to prevent threats, strengthen well-being, and keep students and staff safe,” said Kirsten Kenyon, PCCD Executive Director. “The grants approved this week further this commitment by helping schools address core safety needs and expand essential mental health services, ensuring every student has a secure, healthy learning environment.”
In Pennsylvania, school safety funding is distributed primarily through two streams managed by the PCCD: Targeted School Safety Grants (competitive) and School Safety and Mental Health Grants (primarily noncompetitive, formula-based allocations).
Since 2023, PCCD has awarded more than $37 million through 370 Targeted School Safety grant awards.
This round of funding was provided by this year’s state budget, which included a total of more than $120 million in state school safety and security and mental health funding. PCCD awarded $100 million in School Safety and Mental Health Grants to public school entities earlier this spring.
Governor Shapiro’s latest budget proposal continues the $111 million investment in school safety and mental health supports, including $11 million to continue the Targeted School Safety grant program next fiscal year.
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