Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos has awarded a $1 million Project School Emergency Response to Violence (SERV) grant to the Texas school district that suffered the deadly school shooting at Santa Fe High School on May 18.
The money is designated to provide essential services to aid in the “healing and recovery process.”
“No student, parent or educator should have to experience the trauma suffered by so many at Santa Fe High School and other schools throughout the country,” said Secretary DeVos, according to KTRK. “Every day, the work of the Federal Commission on School Safety grows more urgent. We continue to focus on identifying proven ways to prevent violence and keep our students safe at school.”
Republican Texas Sen. Ted Cruz commended Devos on quickly awarding the grant to the Texas school district saying, “This a crucial first step in federal funding to help the Santa Fe High School community recover. I applaud Secretary DeVos for expediting this grant, and will continue to work to ensure Santa Fe High School receives the assistance it needs. I also remain committed to working with the governor, the administration and my congressional colleagues to put an end to these violent crimes and protect our students.”
Devos, who was named to chair a commission to make schools safer by President Trump, also said that the funding provides the ability to re-establish a safe environment for students.
The Santa Fe school shooting in Texas left eight students and two substitute teachers dead. The perpetrator, who used a shotgun and a pistol belonging to his father, faces capital murder charges in the attack.