School Security Assessment Guide

Start with the independent DSSC assessment

An authorized Delaware school contact should request a no-cost physical school safety assessment from the Delaware School Safety Center (DSSC), using its official request resource or dema.cssp@delaware.gov. DSSC describes a collaborative walkthrough, review of procedures and staff consultation, followed by written observations, strengths and actionable recommendations. This is an agency assessment, not a Shore sales survey or a statutory compliance ruling.

Prepare approved building information, an authorized staff contact and questions for the walkthrough. Agree the school's secure sharing channel before sending drawings, access procedures or vulnerability details. Do not publish the assessment or upload security plans into a public contractor inquiry.

Owner priorities become a separate glazing project

The school owner and safety lead review the recommendations, decide priorities and record approvals with finance and purchasing. Not every finding is a glazing problem. Your school’s safety, facilities and purchasing teams set the priorities. Shore documents the glazing portion, while the appropriate qualified trades address doors, cameras, access control and electrical work.

A separate Shore glazing survey inventories the selected glass and frames, dimensions, condition, candidate film and attachment and exact-system documentation. An itemized estimate identifies access, preparation, exclusions and installation phases. It does not replace the DSSC assessment, decide eligibility or authorize a purchase. Delaware districts can request a no-cost Shore glazing survey. Contact us to confirm the survey scope and cost for other facility types.

Public LEAs, vo-tech districts and charters: review existing funds first

Ask the business office and Delaware Department of Education to review §4140, the current allocation and available balance, and whether the proposed scope is approved. A fund reference is not a promise of available money or automatic film eligibility. Charter schools must confirm the major-capital restriction: these funds cannot be used for major capital improvements. Keep the approved scope and funding determination in the project file.

COPS SVPP: eligibility and application status

The FY26 School Violence Prevention Program is CLOSED. No FY27 opening was verified for this November 5, 2026 review. Qualifying public applicants include eligible governmental entities and public agencies such as school districts; private schools and individual schools that do not operate as districts are not primary applicants. For a future round, confirm funding limits, required local contributions and deadlines in the new notice.

Churches and qualifying nonprofits: confirm NSGP with DEMA

NSGP through DEMA is competitive and reimbursement-based. The federal FY26 listing is archived; it is not Delaware's application deadline. Historical FY26 Appendix A, printed page 62, expressly lists window films under 14EX-00-BSIR. This is evidence from that cycle, not blanket eligibility: ask DEMA to approve the exact current scope, applicant, documentation and purchasing pathway before committing costs.