FORT WAYNE, Ind. (AP) — Changes made to Indiana’s school safety grant program resulted in some school districts seeing funding cut in half as others are receiving double last year’s money.
The $19 million in state grants announced this past week are split among 429 entities, mostly public school districts along with several individual charter and private schools. That marked a $5 million increase from 2018 funding with an increase approved by the Legislature, but The (Fort Wayne) Journal Gazette reports schools sought $4.8 million more than what was available.
Grant decisions varied, with the Jay County district’s allocation dropping from $50,000 to $25,000 and the Northwest Allen County district near Fort Wayne jumping from $50,000 to $100,000.
Indiana Department of Homeland Security spokesman David Hosick says schools were asked to prioritize their requests.