Opportunity Information: Apply for NIJ 2014 3878
Apply for NIJ 2014 3878
- The National Institute of Justice in the education income security and social services law, justice and legal services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NIJ FY 14 Developing Knowledge About What Works to Make Schools Safe" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 16.560 National Institute of Justice Research, Evaluation, and Development Project Grants.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 16, 2014 and posted on Apr 16, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 10, 2014. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $47,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $5,000,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Private institutions of higher education Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Independent school districts Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Special district governments State governments.
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Opportunity Summary:
The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) FY 14 "Developing Knowledge About What Works to Make Schools Safe" grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number NIJ 2014 3878) was a discretionary grant program designed to build solid evidence about which school safety strategies actually make a difference in U.S. schools. The central purpose was not just to fund safety activities, but to fund rigorous testing and evaluation of personnel, programs, and practices intended to improve school safety. In practical terms, NIJ wanted applicants to use federal support to implement or expand a chosen safety intervention and, at the same time, work with experienced researchers to measure outcomes in a way that helps the field distinguish what works from what merely sounds promising.
A key requirement was partnership: eligible school entities were expected to enter into an agreement with highly qualified researchers or research organizations to evaluate the intervention being tested. The idea was to pair real-world school implementation with credible research design so that results would be useful beyond a single campus or district. Applicants had flexibility to select interventions that were most meaningful in their own jurisdictions, but the solicitation highlighted several priority areas NIJ was especially interested in learning more about. These included mental health services (for example, adding or expanding mental health providers and supports), public safety and preparedness approaches (including the use of school resource officers), and initiatives aimed at improving school climate and culture. An example explicitly noted as permissible under the solicitation was hiring school resource officers or mental health service providers, as long as the effort was structured in a way that could be evaluated to produce actionable knowledge.
The funding profile was substantial. NIJ estimated total funding of about $47,000,000 for the program, with individual awards ranging from a $500,000 floor up to a $5,000,000 ceiling. The program did not require cost sharing or matching funds, lowering the barrier for eligible applicants to participate and focus resources on both implementation and evaluation. The assistance was offered as a grant under CFDA 16.560 (National Institute of Justice Research, Evaluation, and Development Project Grants), and it was categorized under education, income security and social services, and law/justice/legal services, reflecting its cross-cutting focus on school environments and public safety outcomes.
Eligibility was broad across education and research-capable organizations and governments. While the description emphasized that funds were available to local education agencies (LEAs), public charter schools recognized as an LEA, and state educational agencies (SEAs), the eligible applicant list also included independent school districts; state governments; special district governments; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; and a range of higher education institutions (public, state-controlled, and private) as well as nonprofits (including 501(c)(3) organizations and certain nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status, other than institutions of higher education). This structure aligned with NIJ's expectation that strong research capacity and implementation capacity would be combined, either within a single eligible entity or through formal partnerships.
Timing-wise, the opportunity was posted and created on April 16, 2014, with an original and final closing date of July 10, 2014, and it was later archived on August 9, 2014. Questions or access issues related to the full announcement were directed to NIJschoolsafety@usdoj.gov, listed as the program contact email. Overall, the solicitation framed school safety as an evidence problem as much as an operational one, aiming to produce generalizable findings about interventions like mental health supports, safety staffing models, preparedness strategies, and climate-focused programming so schools and policymakers could make better-informed decisions about what to invest in.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the NIJ FY 14 "Developing Knowledge About What Works to Make Schools Safe" grant?
This was a discretionary grant opportunity from the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) focused on building strong evidence about which school safety strategies actually improve safety in U.S. schools. The solicitation emphasized rigorous testing and evaluation of school safety personnel, programs, and practices, rather than simply funding safety activities.
What was the main purpose of this funding opportunity?
The central purpose was to fund school safety interventions in a way that produces credible, useful findings about what works. Applicants were expected to implement or expand a chosen intervention and, at the same time, conduct a rigorous evaluation (in partnership with qualified researchers) to measure outcomes and generate actionable knowledge for the broader field.
Was this grant meant to pay for school safety activities or for research?
Both, but with a clear emphasis on evidence-building. NIJ intended federal support to be used to implement or expand an intervention and to evaluate it using a credible research design so results could help distinguish effective strategies from those that only seem promising.
What kinds of school safety interventions were eligible to be tested?
Applicants had flexibility to select interventions meaningful in their jurisdictions. The solicitation highlighted priority areas NIJ was especially interested in learning more about, including:
- Mental health services (such as adding or expanding mental health providers and supports)
- Public safety and preparedness approaches (including the use of school resource officers)
- Initiatives aimed at improving school climate and culture
Did the solicitation allow hiring school resource officers or mental health providers?
Yes. The opportunity explicitly noted that hiring school resource officers or mental health service providers was permissible, as long as the effort was structured so it could be evaluated to produce actionable knowledge.
What was NIJ looking for in the evaluation component?
NIJ wanted rigorous testing and evaluation of the intervention being implemented or expanded. The solicitation framed this as pairing real-world implementation in schools with credible research design so findings would be useful beyond a single campus or district.
Was a research partnership required?
Yes. A key requirement was partnership: eligible school entities were expected to enter into an agreement with highly qualified researchers or research organizations to evaluate the intervention being tested.
Why did NIJ require partnerships with researchers?
The intent was to combine implementation capacity (what schools can do in practice) with research capacity (how to measure outcomes credibly). NIJ aimed for results that could inform the broader field, not just one school or district.
What was the total amount of funding NIJ expected to make available?
NIJ estimated total funding of about $47,000,000 for this program.
What was the award size range for individual grants?
Individual awards were expected to range from a minimum of $500,000 up to a maximum of $5,000,000.
Was cost sharing or a match required?
No. The program did not require cost sharing or matching funds.
What type of federal assistance was this (CFDA number)?
This opportunity was offered as a grant under CFDA 16.560, titled "National Institute of Justice Research, Evaluation, and Development Project Grants."
How was this opportunity categorized by program area?
It was categorized under education, income security and social services, and law/justice/legal services, reflecting its cross-cutting focus on school environments and public safety outcomes.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was broad and included both education-focused entities and organizations with research capacity. The eligible applicant list included:
- Local education agencies (LEAs)
- Public charter schools recognized as an LEA
- State educational agencies (SEAs)
- Independent school districts
- State governments
- Special district governments
- Federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations
- Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
- Institutions of higher education (public, state-controlled, private)
- Nonprofits, including 501(c)(3) organizations and certain nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education)
Was this opportunity limited only to school districts?
No. While the description emphasized availability to LEAs, public charter schools recognized as an LEA, and SEAs, the eligibility list also included various government entities, tribal governments and organizations, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, higher education institutions, and nonprofits.
Could a single applicant handle both implementation and evaluation?
The solicitation’s structure aligned with NIJ’s expectation that implementation capacity and research capacity would be combined either within a single eligible entity or through formal partnerships. The key requirement highlighted was an agreement with highly qualified researchers or a research organization to evaluate the intervention.
What was the Funding Opportunity Number for this solicitation?
The Funding Opportunity Number was NIJ 2014 3878.
When was the opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted and created on April 16, 2014.
What was the application deadline?
The original and final closing date was July 10, 2014.
Is this funding opportunity still open?
No. The solicitation was archived on August 9, 2014.
Where were questions about the full announcement directed?
Questions or access issues related to the full announcement were directed to NIJschoolsafety@usdoj.gov.
What overall problem was NIJ trying to address with this solicitation?
The solicitation framed school safety as an evidence problem as much as an operational one. NIJ aimed to produce generalizable findings about interventions such as mental health supports, safety staffing models (including school resource officers), preparedness strategies, and climate-focused programming to help schools and policymakers make better-informed investment decisions.
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