BProject SERV: U.S. Department of Education Disburses $1.5 Million In Emergency Funds To Uvalde Schools

In response to the tragic mass shooting at Robb Elementary School , the U.S. Department of Education disbursed a $1.5 million School Emergency Response to Violence (Project SERV) grant to the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District (UCISD).

The release of grant funds reflects the extraordinary and immediate needs facing UCISD and follows Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona’s visit to the district on May 31 and June 1, 2022.

Project SERV funds are authorized under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and may be used for activities that help restore a sense of safety and security for the district’s students, teachers, staff, and families, and that address specific needs of those individuals directly affected by the shooting.

Such activities include mental health services for staff and students, and overtime pay for teachers, counselors, and security staff, and may take place over the summer in the form of additional summer programming.

Secretary Cardona initiated the emergency funding through a letter to the district superintendent that outlines key assurances around the federal funding.

In the days following the tragedy, Cardona and other Department staff communicated with UCISD leadership and their Texas Education Agency colleagues and pledged to support recovery efforts in the district and community with a range of technical assistance, including direct access to Department personnel and partners who have helped other communities respond to and recover from acts of school violence.

The Department’s communication with UCISD acknowledges that the community’s needs and challenges in restoring the learning environment may change over time.

Secretary Cardona committed that members of his team will provide direct support to the district in adjusting its Project SERV agreement to reflect these evolving needs.

He said while funds may be used for a 12-month period, the Department stands ready to provide additional, longer-term assistance as requested.

The Department’s Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools Center builds the preparedness capacity (including prevention, protection, mitigation, response, and recovery efforts) of schools, school districts, colleges, and their community partners at the local, state, and federal levels; and serve as the primary source of information for schools, school districts, and colleges for emergencies.

The National Center on Safe and Supportive Learning Environments offers information and technical assistance focused on improving school climate and conditions for learning.