Yardley, PA — Today, the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) visited Abrams Hebrew Academy, one of the 367 recently approved entities to receive almost $20 million through PCCD’s FY 2024-25 Targeted School Safety Grants for Nonpublic Schools. Throughout their first two years, Governor Josh Shapiro and Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis have secured $275 million for school safety and student mental health – which the Administration has driven out quickly to over 1,000 public and nonpublic schools across the Commonwealth.
“Keeping Pennsylvania students safe and healthy is a top priority of the Shapiro-Davis Administration,” PCCD Executive Director Mike Pennington stated. “Our kids can’t learn if they don’t feel safe within the walls of their school. It was great to hear first-hand from staff, students, parents, and local law enforcement about how the Abrams Hebrew Academy is using this critical funding to support students and make learning environments safer now and in the future.”
Abrams Hebrew Academy, which serves students in preschool through 8th grade, received $75,000 under the Targeted School Safety Grant solicitation in November. This funding aims to support programs addressing school violence and improving school safety and security. In addition to nonpublic schools, municipalities, law enforcement agencies, and approved security vendors were also eligible to apply for funding to support school security personnel services in all Pennsylvania schools. With this funding, Abrams Hebrew Academy plans to enhance physical security elements, install emergency communications equipment, and fund school security personnel.
"I've been in education for over thirty years and never before have we faced this challenge as we do today. Across the country, Jewish day schools have struggled over the last year to keep up with the increased security needs to meet this unprecedented time of antisemitism,” said Rabbi Ira Budow, Head of School, Abrams Hebrew Academy. “That's why we're thankful to live in a state like Pennsylvania, with a leader like Governor Shapiro, who understands the need to protect schools like ours and ensure our children can continue to learn in safety."
Abrams Hebrew Academy received an additional $25,000 in October through PCCD’s Nonprofit Security Grant Fund Program to combat hate crime and strengthen security at their school. Plans to use this funding include installing an alarm/panic button and security camera system as well as providing school safety and security training for students and staff.
"We applaud the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Governor Shapiro, Lt. Governor Davis, and PCCD for the decisive action taken to protect our communities, schools, and children,” said Arielle Frankston-Morris, Executive Director, Teach PA. “Our organization works with all of the Jewish day schools across the Commonwealth and this type of support is unfortunately needed now more than ever as our communities have had to shoulder much of the financial burden of the heightened antisemitism in this country, and this funding is a big step in mediating this problem."
Since taking office, the Shapiro-Davis Administration has prioritized addressing security gaps and improving mental health resources for students by providing nearly $275 million in grant funding through the PCCD’s School Safety & Security Grant Program to more than 1,000 of Pennsylvania’s public and private K-12 schools.
More information about PCCD’s school safety and security initiatives can be found on PCCD’s School Safety & Security webpage.