Applications are now being accepted for 2013-14 Pennsylvania School Safety Grant Programs through the Pennsylvania Department of Education's Office for Safe Schools.

Act 70 of 2013 authorized 8.5 million dollars in this year's budget for all 500 Pennsylvania school districts to fund programs that help schools address and prevent school violence. One of these, the Safe Schools Initiative Grant, is accepting applications through the Pennsylvania Department of Education until Dec. 6. The maximum individual grant will be $25,000.

Another grant available is the School Police Officer and School Resource Officer Grant to fund the training and compensation of school resource officers and school police officers. Applications for these grants must be submitted by Nov. 22. The maximum individual grant will be $60,000 for a School Resource Officer and $40,000 for School Police Officer.

For additional information on these grants or to fill out an application, school districts can visit the PDE website at www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/office_of_elementary_secondary_education/7209/p/16302788 or by calling 610-821-8468.