School safety grants: How to apply and use funding for security improvements

What are school safety grants?

School safety grants are monetary funds from government entities or charities to educational facilities that meet a specific set of pre-approved criteria. These programs provide grants for school security systems and school safety equipment, providing administrative staff with funds to upgrade school safety technology and or systems.

Most types of safety grants for schools will be considered a source of financial aid that does not need to be repaid at a later date. However, educators must ensure that their facility continues to comply with all the terms communicated by the grant provider to avoid any possibility of the aid being withdrawn or refunded. 

Reasons schools may be required to repay grant funds include:

• Withdrawing from the grant program earlier than agreed
• A change in enrollment status that impacts the school’s eligibility 
• Receiving additional scholarships or grants from outside sources

Available federal grants for school safety

Many federal grants for school safety and charitable school grants open for applications in 2026. Educators can use the School Safety Grants Finder Tool to search for available funding based on their unique needs. We’ve also provided some basic information on popular grants below to speed up your search.

Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP)

The Homeland Security Grant Program is an annual funding opportunity available to state, local and territorial governments as well as non-profits. HSGP funds can be used to update and enhance measures to prevent, protect against and respond to terrorist attacks.

HSGP awards are issued through local government agencies and can be used to improve existing or develop new security systems. Application information can be provided on request from state government agencies.

• Source of funds —Homeland Security Grants for School Safety
• Funding amount — No max award limit, $1.008 billion total funding for FY25
• Eligibility — State, local and territorial governments, non-profit organizations

COPS School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP)

In accordance with the Stop School Violence Act (STOP) 2018, the COPS Office can award grant funds to states, local governments and nation tribes to improve school security through evidence-based safety programs and technology. SVPP grants can be applied for through COPS to help fund metal detectors, locks, panic buttons and other deterrents, as well as law enforcement officer training.

It should be noted that the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act had a direct impact on the SVPP. The grant initially had a funding level of $50 million. As a result of the Act, funding increased to $73 million annually through Fiscal Year 2026.

• Source of funds — Department of Justice; State General Funds; COPS
• Funding amount — $73 million annually through Fiscal Year 2026
• Eligibility — K‑12 primary and secondary schools, with needs assessed based on the application.

School Safety Enhancement (SSE) Program

The School Safety Enhancement grant program is a federal funding opportunity that provides schools with money to upgrade safety equipment. SSE grants are awarded through State Educational Agencies (SEAs) for the purpose of improving state-wide school safety systems.

SSE awards are administered as discretionary competitive grants for school safety; funding can be used to upgrade essential safety measures and equipment such as visitor screening systems, access control systems, communication tools and threat response training for staff.

• Source of funds —Department of Health and Human Services
• Funding amount — $93 million in total funding for FY26
• Eligibility — State governments and State Educational Agencies

Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP)

NSGP funding offers grants for school security to improve physical security systems and provide security and safety training for school officials. Funds are awarded via the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and can be used to purchase security technologies such as security cameras, cloud-based access control devices and locking systems, as well as fund preparedness training exercises.

• Source of funds — Homeland Security Grants for School Safety; FEMA
• Funding amount — Up to $274.5 million is available in total funding for FY2025, with no local cash match
• Eligibility — Awards made to State Administrative Agencies to be passed on to nonprofits

State-specific funding opportunities, such as the Arizona Nonprofit Security Grant Program, are also available, but requirements, scope and available funds may differ. Preparation for the 2026 application cycle should commence in late 2025. State program openings for each fiscal year generally occur between February and April, with closing deadlines typically set between April and June.

Available school safety funding by state

State school safety grants are funded by federal or independent entities and awarded through state-level agencies. Below are some examples of dedicated grants for school safety by state.

Alabama

Alabama grants for school safety include: 

• The Alabama K‑12 Capital Grant Program is a competitive school safety grant that funds public and charter school systems in Alabama for school security, facility and technology improvements. The program is a onetime funding opportunity; allowable expenses include CCTV, access control and communication technologies.
• The Alabama Education Trust Fund Advancement and Technology (A&T) Fund is a recurring, annual school security funding opportunity available to all Alabama public school systems for improving physical security infrastructure.

Alaska

Alaska grants for school safety include:

• The School Safety Enhancement (SSE) Program is a federal-to-state grant program available to Alaska schoolsfor improving physical security measures; eligible expenses include upgrades to access control and visitor management systems.
• The State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program (SLCGP) is a grant opportunity available to Alaska school districts that provides funding for cybersecurity training and technology improvements, including tools that aid incident response and management.

Arizona

Arizona grants for school safety include:

• The Arizona School Safety Program is a competitive grant that provides funding for school security personnel. If schools cannot hire a school resource officer, the award can be used to fund school security technologies and safety training programs.
• The Arizona Department of Education is awarding $53 million in carryover School Safety Program funds through FY27 to help finance school safety improvements; the grant can be used to fund training, mental health support and school security officers.

Arkansas

Arkansas grants for school safety include:

• The Arkansas Division of Elementary and Secondary Education School Safety Grant is a school safety grant available to Arkansas schools intended to facilitate safe learning environments for students; allowable expenses include visitor management and emergency alert system improvements and safety training for staff.
• The Non-Profit Security Grant Program is a grant for school safety equipment managed by the Arkansas Department of Public Safety intended to help private schools and non-profit organizations fund CCTV and access security improvements.

California

California grants for school safety include:

• The After School Education and Safety (ASES) Program is a state-level funding initiative for after-school enrichment programs. Through ASES,schools can fund resources for improving student safety, including physical security technologies.
• The Charter School Facilities Program (CSFP) funds charter schools in California for improving school infrastructure; schools can secure a 50/50 grant loan match to help finance essential safety infrastructure improvements.

Colorado

Colorado grants for school safety include: 

• The School Access for Emergency Response (SAFER) Program is a competitive grant program available to Colorado school districts that provides funding for security equipment and measures, like communication equipment and threat response training.
• The School Security Disbursement Program is a Colorado state school safety grant intended to help educators improve security within public schools; awards can be spent on upgrades to school security infrastructure and emergency preparedness measures.

Connecticut

Connecticut grants for school safety include:

• The Multi-Media School Security Grant Program (MMSSGP) funds educators to facilitate direct lines of communication between schools and local law enforcement; allowable expenses include cameras, panic alarms and IoT solutions.
• The School Security Grant Program (SSGP) is a competitive grant available to Connecticut schools for improving security infrastructure; funds can be used to replace or enhance security measures like access systems and cameras.

Delaware

Delaware grants for school safety include:

• The Delaware School Safety and Security Fund is a competitive grant administered by the Delaware School Safety Center that schools can use to invest in protective infrastructure, safety training and security systems up to a maximum value of $50,000.
• The Stronger Connections Grant Program (SCG) is a program of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSC) that funds help schools establish safe learning environments; awards can fund supplies required for improving school safety.

Florida

Florida grants for school safety include:

• The School Hardening Grant Program is a state-level school safety grant program administered by the Florida Department of Education intended to provide dedicated funding for school safety and security improvements, like security technology upgrades.
• The Florida School Safety & SRO Enhancement Grant provides funding for School Resource Officer programs and security upgrades to educational institutions in Florida; awards can fund SRO training, threat assessment tools and protective improvements.

Georgia

Georgia grants for school safety include:

• The Governor’s School Safety & Security Funding Grant is a program administered by the Georgia Governor’s Office for funding school safety and security improvements; up to $45,000 of the total $109 million fund can be allocated per school.
• GSBA Risk Management Services (RMS) Safety Grants can be applied for through the Georgia School Boards Association to fund new and improve existing school safety measures; eligible schools can receive a grant of up to $5,000 to fund improvements.

Hawaii

Hawaii grants for school safety include:

• The School Safety Enhancement Program can be applied for by Hawaii schools to develop, implement and strengthen school safety systems and the physical security of learning environments; awards can fund training and infrastructure improvements.
• The School Violence Prevention Program is a Department of Justice grant award available to Hawaii schools that can be used to fund physical security upgrades and the implementation of safety equipment like access control and video camera systems.

Idaho

Idaho grants for school safety include:

• Safe Drug Free Schools (SDFS) Funding from the Idaho Department of Education provides grant awards to Idaho school districts for improving security and student well-being; awards can fund projects such as threat prevention initiatives.
• The Secure Our Future (SOF) Grant Program is a school safety initiative created by the Idaho Governor’s Office and the Idaho State Board of Education intended to fund durable safety updates to schools, including physical security system upgrades.

Illinois

Illinois grants for school safety include:

• The Illinois Not-for-Profit Security Grant Program (NSGP-IL) is a school safety grant opportunity administered by the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security that provides funding for upgrades to security systems.
• The School Safety Drill Act provides a total value of $16 million to the state board of education for helping Illinois schools obtain crisis response mapping data used to help first responders better address emergencies on school grounds.

Indiana

Indiana grants for school safety include: 

• The Indiana Secured School Safety Grant (SSSG) Program is a dedicated state fund that provides matching grants to public schools, accredited non-public schools and charter schools; awards can be used to fund improvements to security systems.
• The Student Support and Academic Enrichment Program (Title IV, Part A) grant funding program provides support to high-needs districts as formula grants; awards can be used to fund prevention training in schools

Iowa

Iowa grants for school safety include:

• The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) STOP School Violence Program is a grant initiative available to Iowa schools that provides funding for measures to help with incident prevention in K‑12 schools, such as threat prevention training and technologies.
• The Stronger Connections Grant Program (SCG) is an initiative of the Bipartisan Safety Communities Act (BSC) that funds help schools establish safe learning environments; almost $6 million in total funding is available to Iowa schools.

Kansas

Kansas grants for school safety include:

• The Safe and Secure Schools Grant Program is a state-level program administered by the Kansas State Department of Education that provides funding for school safety improvements, such as upgrades to technologies like cameras, door locks and alarms.
• The Kansas Safe and Secure Firearms Detection Grant is a program administered by the Office of the Kansas Attorney General to support the development of school firearm detection systems; a maximum of $500,000 is available to each school district.

Kentucky

Kentucky grants for school safety include:

• The Kentucky Center for School Safety provides state-level funding opportunities to Kentucky schools for enhancing school safety; awards can be used to fund personnel hire, training and the implementation of school safety technologies.
• The Stronger Connections Grant Program (SCG) has allocated more than $15 million in grant funding to Kentucky school districts to help educators establish safe learning environments; awards can be used to fund staff training and personnel hire.

Louisiana

Louisiana grants for school safety include:

• The Louisiana Center for Safe Schools Program funds Louisiana school districts for protecting them from incidents; eligible schools / BESE-approved school site applicants can receive a maximum award of up to $50,000.
• The COPS Office School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP) funds the state of Louisiana to help educators improve security at schools; funds can be used to implement technologies that can improve emergency response coordination.

Maine

Maine grants for school safety include:

• The School Revolving Renovation Fund (SRRF) is a grant administered by the Maine Department of Education that provides funding assistance to School Administrative Units (SUAs) to help establish safe and secure learning environments.
• The State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program (SLCGP) is a recurring, annual grant program that funds eligible schools to address cybersecurity risks and threats to information systems; over $91 million in funding was allocated in FY25.

Maryland

Maryland grants for school safety include:

• The Maryland Center for School Safety offers recurring, annual grant opportunities to Maryland schools and school districts to help improve school safety; available programs for FY27 include the Hate Crimes Grant and the Safe Schools Fund Grant.
• The School Facility Mapping Grant (SFMG) is a funding opportunity available to all Maryland school systems, administered by the Maryland Center for School Safety; the grant funds schools for creating mapping data programs.

Massachusetts

Massachusetts grants for school safety include:

• Safe and Supportive Schools Grants are a combination of state-funded programs available to all Massachusetts school districts intended to help educators establish safe, positive, healthy, equitable and inclusive whole-school learning environments.
• The Cyber Resilient Massachusetts Grant Program is a state-level rolling funding opportunity available to local governments and schools for upgrading technologies and developing network defenses to help reduce and combat cyber risks.

Michigan

Michigan grants for school safety include:

• The Competitive School Safety Grant Program (CSSGP) is an award administered by the Michigan Department of Education that provides dedicated funding for school safety and security improvements; funds can be used to upgrade security equipment.
• Section 31aa Safety Funds are funding opportunities available to school districts in the state of Michigan for improving student mental health and school safety; allowable expenses include safety infrastructure and threat response training.

Minnesota

Minnesota grants for school safety include:

• The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) Law Enforcement Emergency Device Grant funds local school districts for improving access security systems to help law enforcement access schools during emergencies.
• The Stronger Connections Grant Program (SCG) has provided over $10 million in funding to the Minnesota Department of Education to help support local schools in the establishment of safe learning environments through training and personnel hire.

Mississippi

Mississippi grants for school safety include:

• The School Safety Grant Program is a competitive grant administered by the Mississippi Department of Education that funds school districts for improving threat response, incident prevention and physical security measures.
• The Community Oriented Policing Services in Schools (MCOPS) Grant (Mississippi) is a program run by the Mississippi Department of Education that funds to create or enhance School Resource Officer (SRO) programs.

Missouri

Missouri grants for school safety include:

• The Stronger Connections Grant Program (SCG) has provided more than $15 million in funding for Missouri schools and school districts to help educators strengthen safety measures and establish safe learning environments.
• The School Safety Grant Program, administered through the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, funds local schools to help improve physical security; funds can be used to upgrade physical security systems.

Montana

Montana grants for school safety include:

• The State of Montana State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program (SLCGP) provides local school districts with funding to help address cybersecurity threats; the grant can be used to improve endpoint detection and digital access control measures.
• The Nonprofit Security Grant Program funds eligible schools for increasing the physical and cybersecurity of school environments; awards can be used to fund enhancements to security equipment and security-related efforts.

Nebraska

Nebraska grants for school safety include:

• The School Safety and Security-Related Infrastructure Grant is a grant program run by the Nebraska Department of Education that provides support to schools in the enhancement of security systems like access control and video security infrastructure.
• Nebraska School Safety & Security Grants are intended to provide guidance and support to all Nebraska schools in their efforts to prevent, prepare for, respond to and recover from safety and security incidents to help keep educational communities safe.

Nevada

Nevada grants for school safety include:

• The Stronger Connections Grant Program (SCG) has provided almost $9 million in grant funding to the Nevada Department of Education for enhancing school safety measures; awards can be used to fund staff training and personnel hires.
• The School Safety Enhancement (SSE) Program is a discretionary grant available to Nevada school districts that can be used to fund improvements to school security measures; awards can be used to implement and strengthen school safety systems.

New Hampshire

New Hampshire grants for school safety include:

• The Security Action for Education (SAFE) Grant is a fund established to support school security and safety improvements for K‑12 schools in New Hampshire; local schools have been allocated $5 million in funding for FY27 to improve school safety.
• The New Hampshire Governor’s Office has approved $2.6 million in funding to create, maintain and integrate detailed critical incident maps for public schools. The project is intended to help law enforcement respond to emergencies more effectively.

New Jersey

New Jersey grants for school safety include:

• The Securing Our Children’s Future Bond Act(SOCFBA) Grant is a state-level grant program that provides funding for school safety and security improvements; awards can be used to upgrade security systems in compliance with Alyssa’s Law.
• The Nonpublic School Security Program is a grant administered by the New Jersey Department of Education that provides aid for the provision of security services and equipment to help improve safety for students at nonpublic schools. 

New Mexico

New Mexico grants for school safety include:

• New Mexico House Bill 450 provides state-wide funding for public infrastructure improvement projects; $50 million is to be distributed among New Mexico public schools to fund the implementation, maintenance and repair of security systems.
• The Firearm Detection Software Fund is a proposed state financial initiative intended to provide grants to public and charter schools for the procurement of AI software designed to identify visible and concealed firearms on school grounds.

New York

New York grants for school safety include:

• The Securing Communities Against Hate Crimes Grant Program is a funding opportunity available to faith-based private schools and community organizations that can be used to fund upgrades to physical security equipment and infrastructure.
• The Smart Schools Bond Act (SSBA) is a support program that provides capital reimbursement to New York public school districts for improvements made to school physical security infrastructure, including equipment like cameras and access systems.

North Carolina

North Carolina grants for school safety include:

• The North Carolina Center for Safer Schools provides grant funding for security improvements at North Carolina schools; the agency has $33 million in recurring funding for School Resource Officers available to eligible schools across the state.
• The NCPDI School Safety Grants Program is a state-level grant initiative that provides dedicated funding for school safety and security improvements in schools; awards can be used to purchase equipment like cameras, vape detectors and radios.

North Dakota

North Dakota grants for school safety include:

• The North Dakota Nonprofit Security Grant Program(NSGP) provides funding up to a maximum of $200,000 per site to local schools for enhancements to physical security systems and measures, eligible schools can secure funding for up to 3 sites.
• School Emergency Response to Violence (SERV) grant funding is available to North Dakota schools for providing short-term support to community members after a traumatic event and to help restore affected learning environments.

Ohio

Ohio grants for school safety include:

• The Ohio Attorney General’s FY26 School Safety Grant provides schools across the state of Ohio with financial support to strengthen school security measures; the grant can be used to fund wide-ranging efforts from training to technology adoption.
• The Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) Safety Grants Program is a funding opportunity available to Ohio school districts that provides support in the form of grants that can be spent on upgrades to school safety technologies and equipment.

Oklahoma

Oklahoma grants for school safety include:

• The Oklahoma School and Campus Safety Security Grant Program is a grant administered by the Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security that provides up to $50,000 per school in support of school safety system upgrades.
• The School Safety Revolving Fund — Oklahoma HB 2903 Program provides grant funding to schools for establishing and maintaining School Resource Officer (SRO) programs, as well as implementing physical security enhancements.

Oregon

Oregon grants for school safety include:

• The Oregon School Capital Improvement Matching (OSCIM) Program provides matching grants to eligible school districts to help administrators renovate older buildings; awards can be used to modernize school security systems.
• The Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) funds Oregon schools to help educators improve the physical and cybersecurity of school facilities; eligible schools can receive up to $200,000 per site for up to 3 sites to fund security projects.

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania grants for school safety include:

• The PCCD School Safety and Mental Health Grants Program provides grants to local schools designed to help administrators fund safety needs; awards can be used to fund a wide range of projects, including the implementation of security technologies.
• The Targeted School Safety Grants for Nonpublic Schools Program is a funding opportunity aimed at enhancing the safety and security of schools across the state; awards can be used to purchase security equipment and conduct risk assessments.

Rhode Island

Rhode Island grants for school safety include:

• The State Capital Safety Resolution Fund provides $30 million in grant funding to Rhode Island public schools for the enhancement of school safety and security measures, including improvements to video security and access control technologies.
• Rhode Island Health and Educational Building Corporation (RIHEBC) grants can be accessed by Rhode Island schools to help fund capital projects and equipment purchases critical to improving safety and security measures across school campuses.

South Carolina

South Carolina grants for school safety include:

• South Carolina Department of Education School Safety Priority Funds provide funding to public and charter school districts across the state to help administrators make upgrades to school security equipment like access control and CCTV systems.
• The COPS School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP) provides funding through the South Carolina Department of Education to help educators improve security at schools and on school grounds using evidence-based programs and technologies.

South Dakota

South Dakota grants for school safety include:

• The School Safety Enhancement (SSE) Program is a funding initiative available to South Dakota school districts that awards funds for enhancing school safety measures; awards can be used to upgrade security equipment like access systems.
• State Homeland Security Grants provide support to South Dakota schools as monetary awards designed to strengthen security measures; eligible schools can leverage grants to improve physical protections and access security measures. 

Tennessee

Tennessee grants for school safety include:

• The FY26 Public School Security Grant provides support to Tennessee schools to help decrease the likelihood of violent or disruptive behaviors affecting students and school communities; awards can be used to address gaps in security protections.
• The FY26 School Safety Alert Grant is a program designed to award school safety grants to local education agencies and school districts for purchasing and installing panic alert systems as described in Tenn. Code Ann. § 49 – 6‑804(a).

Texas

Texas grants for school safety include:

• The Safety and Facilities Enhancement (SAFE) Grant Program funds Texas school systems through the Texas Education Agency (TEA)for supporting efforts to improve the security of school facilities for students and staff.
• The School Bus Safety Grant Program is designed to assist Texas school systems with retrofitting school buses with three-point seatbelts to help improve transit safety; eligible schools can receive a maximum award of $6,000 to help fund this initiative.

Utah

Utah grants for school safety include:

• The School Safety and Support Grant Program funds Texas school systems for improving school safety through the upgrade and enhancement of school security systems, including access control, CCTV and communications equipment.
• The Stronger Connections Grant Program (SGC) has provided over $5 million in grant funding to Texas school systems for helping administrators to establish safe learning environments and improve site-wide security infrastructure.

Vermont

Vermont grants for school safety include:

• The School Safety and Security (SSSG) Grant Program is a funding opportunity administered by the Vermont Department of Public Safety that provides dedicated funding for school safety and security improvements, e.g. security system upgrades.
• The COPS School Violence Prevention Program provides funding directly to the Vermont Department of Education for enhancing security and safety measures at local schools; awards can be used to fund safety programs and technology updates.

Virginia

Virginia grants for school safety include:

• Virginia Public School Authority (VPSA) Security Equipment Grants fund local schools for the purchase and implementation of physical security hardware; allowable expenses include visitor screening and video security systems.
• The School Safety Personnel or Programming Only Grant Program is a grant initiative designed to promote the safety of students and staff through the use and implementation of school security personnel and programming to help prevent crime.

Washington

Washington grants for school safety include:

• The Washington School Security and Preparedness Infrastructure Grant provides competitive state funding to K‑12 school districts for the enhancement of school safety infrastructure, including access control systems, fencing and panic alert systems.
• The Washington Nonprofit Security Grant Program is a recurring grant initiative available to Washington school districts that provides funding support for physical security enhancements; FY27 outreach is expected to begin in February 2027.

West Virginia

West Virginia grants for school safety include:

• The Safe Schools Fund Grant is a funding opportunity for West Virginia schools administered by the West Virginia Department of Education that provides funding for school security improvements such as access safety and building systems upgrades.
• The Stronger Connections Grant Program (SCG) has awarded more than $5.7 million in funding to West Virginia school districts for improving safety and security on school grounds through evidence-based programs and technologies.

Wisconsin

Wisconsin grants for school safety include:

• Critical Incident Response (CIR) Grants provide emergency financial assistance to Wisconsin schools affected by significant physical security incidents; funds can be used to help schools recover from traumatic events and restore learning environments.
• Wisconsin Act 109 Digital Mapping of School Buildings Grants provide assistance to schools with obtaining reimbursement for funds spent on the creation of critical incident mapping data used to help first responders expedite threat response efforts. 

Wyoming

Wyoming grants for school safety include:

• The School Facilities Division (SFD) provides assistance to school districts in the financing and maintenance of education facilities; the SFD provides grant opportunities to help address security needs related to access control and door-locking hardware.
• The State Homeland Security Grant Program provides funds for school security and emergency operations planning to help prevent and improve responses to security incidents; funds can be used to purchase and upgrade specialized security equipment.

What do grants for school security improvements cover?

The exact details regarding which technologies, systems and equipment will be covered will vary depending on the school safety grant program. Generally speaking, financial aid will be offered to pay or subsidize the costs of technologies schools can reasonably claim are used to improve safety and security. 

Some school security grants are targeted for more specific use cases. For example, the American Rescue Plan (ARP funding for schools) covers most costs associated with social, emotional and mental health. Localized safety grants, such as the Ontario school safety grants, may have more specific stipulations around what the grant covers.

How to apply for 2026 school security grants

When applying for school security grants financed by the U.S. government, administrators will be required to write and submit a detailed grant proposal to a pre-specified local or state authority. A successful proposal will thoroughly outline the intended purpose of the funding.

To apply for 2026 school security grants, school administrators and proposal teams must:

• Review program requirements: Each federal safety grant for schools has an associated document named a Request for Funding Proposal (RFP) or Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). These outline key requirements such as grant intention, deadlines, registration details, formatting rules and required evidence.
• Identify relevant improvements: Using information provided in the RFP / NOFO, grant teams should identify security improvements that meet school safety grant criteria. Planning can be conducted during School Safety Week or when teams can gather and perform proper research.
• Plan budgets and timelines: Grants for school security improvements will only be awarded to institutions that can demonstrate how equipment/​measures will be financed and delivered. Some grants require a portion of funding to be supplied by the awardee.
• Write a compelling proposal: Alongside technical information like selection criteria, timelines and budgets, proposals for school security grants must contain a compelling narrative argument that demonstrates the school’s need for funding.
• Submit through approved channels: Typically, federal grants are submitted through Grants​.gov and require prior registration through SAM​.gov. Best practices dictate that proposals be sent 5 – 7 days before posted deadlines.

Best practices for securing funding

When it comes to registering for and formulating a final grant submission, there are several best practices that educators should follow, including:

Meeting administrative requirements

A typical school safety grant program will require school officials to register their organization with the US government’s System for Award Management (SAM) database. Officials must check with their chosen grant provider to see whether their application will require additional registration with a secondary administrative system, such as Just Grants, before submitting any proposals. 

Appointing a grant proposal team

To help secure a grant, school administrators must collect and organize relevant data clearly. Assign specific roles to trusted staff to avoid delays, missed deadlines and errors in the proposal development process.

Important positions include:

• Grant Advocate — This individual will be responsible for locating grant opportunities, identifying and voicing grant requirements and selecting who will manage the pre- and post-award processes.

• Project Manager — The project manager must ensure all administrative and registration needs are met, coordinate stakeholders, compile Letters of Intent and oversee the proposal’s submittal.

• Grant Writer — The grant writer will be tasked with developing a narrative for the proposal, collecting data to support this narrative and submitting the finalized grant application.

• Post-Award Manager — This role will involve ensuring that all purchasing requirements and discussed project deliverables are met and reported in line with the grant program’s criteria.

Researching safe schools grants

After identifying needs and developing a strategic grant proposal process, officials must search for grant programs with matching criteria. Methods to achieve this include:

• Grants Databases — Free and fee-based databases can be used to search for new and existing grant programs that match the school’s search criteria.

• State Administering Agency — School officials can register directly with their State Administering Agency to receive updates regarding available state-funded grants for school security.

• Funding Source — All federal school security grants posted by federal agencies will be uploaded to the Grants​.gov online database. From here, admins can search for and apply to grant programs.

Additional documentation

School security grants are typically awarded to organizations with a clear, comprehensive safety plan outlining measurable security improvements across the district. To illustrate this, supporting documents should be prepared, including:

• An emergency management plan

• Site and risk assessments

• Threat assessment procedures

• Implemented training and drills

• Action reports and assessments

Submit a comprehensive application

School security grants are highly competitive, often receiving more applications than available funds. School officials must therefore understand grant-writing requirements and submit a well-researched proposal. School districts can achieve this by:

• Paying careful attention to grant requirements, including deadline dates, registration information, contact details, formatting and supporting evidence.
• Appealing to the selection criteria by comparing the content to the specific criteria outlined in the RFP or NOFA document.
• Requesting a second opinion to ensure that the application is well-structured, easy to understand and answers the questions posed by the awarding body. 

Creative tips for spending grant program funds

Alongside traditional uses of school safety grants for cameras in classrooms, access control systems and trained law-enforcement officers, K‑12 educators may wish to explore a number of creative ways to spend school security funding to maximize the value of their proposals and secure larger awards. Ideas include:

• STEM programs — Grants for school security are focused on negating learning loss amongst students, alongside improving on-site security. Funds can reasonably be spent on educational tools like robotics kits and lab equipment, as well as math and coding programs.
• Environmental sensors — Specialized sensor devices can be deployed to create automated early-warning systems that alert staff of harmful changes in air quality, intruders or loud noises. 
• Communication devices — Grants can fund new communication devices, such as two-way radios, for school safety. This can improve incident and emergency responses by implementing a reliable communication method.
• Flexible classrooms — ARP schools can use grant funding to create modern learning spaces equipped with flexible seating arrangements, variable-height tables and other furniture upgrades to promote interaction and collaboration.

Get help with your school security grants

School safety grants help administrators fund improvements in physical security systems, dedicated school resource officers, staff/​student training and, in some cases, technology and equipment for learning resources and infrastructure. Schools must carefully review eligibility and criteria for grants, ensuring their needs align with the awarding body’s requirements and that their proposal adheres to the RFP or NOFA.

To help secure school security funding, officials need a documented plan and a grant proposal team. The free Avigilon Grant Assistance program aids administrators at any stage, from research to proposal review for physical security solutions. Contact our third-party grant experts today for personalized help.