NEWTOWN, Conn. – Members of the House and Senate Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittees have demonstrated their continued support for the Student, Teachers, and Officers Preventing School Violence Act, more commonly known as the STOP School Violence Act, by including a level funding investment in the draft Fiscal Year 2026 Commerce, Justice, Science appropriations bills. Representatives from Sandy Hook Promise, as well as student leaders from the organization’s National Youth Advisory Board, celebrated Congress’ decision to preserve this funding – notably amidst a period of nationwide cuts to other areas of public education, mental health, and violence prevention resources.
A total of $135 million has been allocated for the STOP School Violence Act, including $82 million for the Bureau of Justice Assistance and $53 million for Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS). The STOP School Violence Act was originally drafted by Sandy Hook Promise with bipartisan support back in 2018. The program provides grants to school districts, states, and tribes for the purposes of training students, school personnel, and law enforcement to recognize signs of violence and intervene to prevent people from hurting themselves or others. It also supports the development of anonymous reporting systems along with school threat assessment and intervention teams. Sandy Hook Promise proudly worked with Republicans and Democrats to write and pass this evidence-informed legislation in 2018 during President Trump’s first term.
“We applaud our leaders in Congress for their continued commitment to provide school communities with the resources that make violence prevention possible. Because of this legislation, tragedies are being averted, and precious lives are being saved every single day. This ensures more students have the chance to learn, grow, and thrive,” said Mark Barden, co-founder and co-CEO of Sandy Hook Promise and father of Daniel, who was killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy.
“The strong bipartisan support for the STOP School Violence grants – which helps train students and adults to know the signs of violence and suicide and seek help – is going to save young lives nationwide. Warning signs are almost always present before an act of school violence or self-harm. The ability for youth and adults to recognize these signals gives us our best opportunities to stop a tragedy – but there is still more work to do. We ask members of Congress from both sides of the aisle to also come together to champion funding for other important grant programs that support youth mental health in schools and solutions to stop violence in communities, so that more young people have the chance to flourish,” said Nicole Hockley, co-founder and co-CEO of Sandy Hook Promise and mother of Dylan who was killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy.
“The decision by Congress to maintain level funding for the STOP School Violence Act reaffirms the notion that keeping children safe is never a partisan issue – it’s the common ground that unites us all. Sandy Hook Promise has been so effective in our work because we are committed to working with all our elected officials to find solutions to protect children from gun violence. The misuse of firearms is preventable. And that fact drives our work and gives us hope for a safer future for all children,” said Lauren Levin, chief advocacy officer of the Sandy Hook Promise Action Fund.
What Youth are Saying
Members of Sandy Hook Promise’s s National Youth Advisory Board met with congressional staffers in Washington D.C. this week to discuss a range of school safety topics, including the STOP School Violence Act. They shared their unique perspectives about school safety, and how legislative policies are connected to those elements.
“The STOP School Violence Act funds some of the programs that we do in our school, such as Start with Hello, that helps kids make new friends and helps prevent violence in schools. It’s a lot of fun but it’s also important. Because of programs like this, we know how to handle situations like, for example, if a friend is thinking about suicide or if someone has a gun at the school,” said Mylan, a 16-year-old student from Louisiana.
“I think youth leadership is important because we’re going to be the adults of tomorrow. We have the power to change the world. I’m thankful for this opportunity to be here on Capitol Hill to meet these legislators and other great minds. Every school in the nation will benefit from the conversations here today,” said Frederick, a 17-year-old student from Texas.
“We need to prioritize youth involvement to build a better future by providing resources and skills for tomorrow’s leaders – because we are the future. Also, we need to include firsthand perspectives from students facing youth violence. No conversation without us is for us. In having the opportunity to be involved, we are able to learn how to make changes for ourselves and contribute to the conversation,” said Sarah, a 16-year-old student from Connecticut.
For more information about legislation that has been proven to save lives, as well as actions that anyone can take to prevent violence, please visit sandyhookpromise.org.
Photo captions and credits:
Caption: The Sandy Hook Promise National Youth Advisory Board and other staff members visited congressional offices in Washington D.C. to discuss a range of school safety topics. Co-Founder and Co-CEO Nicole Hockley is pictured on the far right. (Photo credit A. Enrique Huaiquil).
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The Sandy Hook Promise Action Fund (SHPAF) is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization committed to protecting all children from gun violence in schools, homes, and communities. The SHP Action Fund advances a holistic policy platform that promotes gun safety, youth mental health, and violence prevention education. The organization works at the state and federal level to pass nonpartisan legislation through inclusive partnerships, diverse grassroots education, and community mobilization. It is part of Sandy Hook Promise, founded and led by several family members whose loved ones were killed in the tragic mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012.
Media Contact:
Aimee Thunberg | [email protected] | 203-491-7472