---
kind: "section"
citation: "20 U.S.C. § 5965"
title: "20"
title_heading: "Education"
number: "5965"
heading: "Use of funds"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/20/5965"
units:
  - "Chapter 68 — National Education Reform"
  - "Subchapter VII — Safe Schools"
---

# §5965. Use of funds

- (a) **In general—** A [local educational agency](/usc/20/5802.md?p=a-6) shall use grant funds received under this subchapter for one or more of the following activities:
  - (1) Identifying and assessing [school](/usc/20/5802.md?p=a-11) violence and discipline problems, including coordinating needs assessment activities with education, law enforcement, judicial, health, social service, and other appropriate agencies and organizations, juvenile justice programs, and gang prevention activities.
  - (2) Conducting [school](/usc/20/5802.md?p=a-11) safety reviews or violence prevention reviews of programs, policies, practices, and facilities to determine what changes are needed to reduce or prevent violence and promote safety and discipline.
  - (3) Planning for comprehensive, long-term strategies for addressing and preventing [school](/usc/20/5802.md?p=a-11) violence and discipline problems through the involvement and coordination of [school](/usc/20/5802.md?p=a-11) programs with other education, law enforcement, judicial, health, social service, and other appropriate agencies and organizations.
  - (4) Training [school](/usc/20/5802.md?p=a-11) personnel in programs of demonstrated effectiveness in addressing violence, including violence prevention, conflict resolution, anger management, peer mediation, and identification of high-risk youth.
  - (5) Activities which involve parents in efforts to promote [school](/usc/20/5802.md?p=a-11) safety and prevent [school](/usc/20/5802.md?p=a-11) violence.
  - (6) [Community](/usc/20/5802.md?p=a-3) education programs, including video- and technology-based projects, informing parents, businesses, local government, the media and other appropriate entities about—
    - (A) the [local educational agency](/usc/20/5802.md?p=a-6)’s plan to promote [school](/usc/20/5802.md?p=a-11) safety and reduce and prevent [school](/usc/20/5802.md?p=a-11) violence and discipline problems; and
    - (B) the need for [community](/usc/20/5802.md?p=a-3) support.
  - (7) Coordination of [school](/usc/20/5802.md?p=a-11)-based activities designed to promote [school](/usc/20/5802.md?p=a-11) safety and reduce or prevent [school](/usc/20/5802.md?p=a-11) violence and discipline problems with related efforts of education, law enforcement, judicial, health, social service, and other appropriate agencies and organizations and juvenile justice programs.
  - (8) Developing and implementing violence prevention activities and materials, including—
    - (A) conflict resolution and social skills development for students, teachers, aides, other [school](/usc/20/5802.md?p=a-11) personnel, and parents;
    - (B) disciplinary alternatives to expulsion and suspension of students who exhibit violent or antisocial behavior;
    - (C) student-led activities such as peer mediation, peer counseling, and student courts; or
    - (D) alternative after-[school](/usc/20/5802.md?p=a-11) programs that provide safe havens for students, which may include cultural, recreational, educational and instructional activities, and mentoring and [community](/usc/20/5802.md?p=a-3) service programs.
  - (9) Educating students and parents regarding the dangers of guns and other weapons and the consequences of their use.
  - (10) Developing and implementing innovative curricula to prevent violence in [schools](/usc/20/5802.md?p=a-11) and training staff how to stop disruptive or violent behavior if such behavior occurs.
  - (11) Supporting “safe zones of passage” for students between home and [school](/usc/20/5802.md?p=a-11) through such measures as Drug- and Weapon-Free [School](/usc/20/5802.md?p=a-11) Zones, enhanced law enforcement, and neighborhood patrols.
  - (12) Counseling programs for victims and witnesses of [school](/usc/20/5802.md?p=a-11) violence and crime.
  - (13) Acquiring and installing metal detectors and hiring security personnel.
  - (14) Reimbursing law enforcement authorities for their personnel who participate in [school](/usc/20/5802.md?p=a-11) violence prevention activities.
  - (15) Evaluating projects and activities assisted under this subchapter.
  - (16) The cost of administering projects or activities assisted under this subchapter.
  - (17) Other projects or activities that meet the purpose of this subchapter.
- (b) **Limitations—**
  - (1) **In general—** A [local educational agency](/usc/20/5802.md?p=a-6) may use not more than—
    - (A) a total of 5 percent of grant funds received under this subchapter in each fiscal year for activities described in paragraphs [(11)](#a-11), [(13)](#a-13), and [(14)](#a-14) of subsection (a); and
    - (B) 5 percent of grant funds received under this subchapter in each fiscal year for activities described in [paragraph (16)](#a-16) of subsection (a).
  - (2) **Special rule—** A [local educational agency](/usc/20/5802.md?p=a-6) shall only be able to use grant funds received under this subchapter for activities described in paragraphs [(11)](#a-11), [(13)](#a-13), and [(14)](#a-14) of subsection (a) if funding for such activities is not available from other Federal sources.
  - (3) **Prohibition—** A [local educational agency](/usc/20/5802.md?p=a-6) may not use grant funds received under this subchapter for construction.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 103–227, title VII, § 705, Mar. 31, 1994, 108 Stat. 206.)