Arizona State Funding
State Funding
The Arizona School Safety Program is a competitive state grant that primarily supports school safety personnel. Following the passage of HB 2074 in May 2025, the program may also cover safety technology, specialized training, and campus infrastructure improvements under certain conditions.
When a district or charter school has an approved proposal but cannot place one or more school resource officers, juvenile probation officers, school safety officers, counselors, or social workers included in that proposal, it may submit an alternative spending plan.
This added flexibility can allow eligible schools to invest in security technology, training programs, secured entrances and exits, or emergency notification tools such as panic alert systems.
Arizona School Safety Program
The Arizona School Safety Program is a competitive, state-supported grant initiative that generally operates in three-year funding cycles.
Under Arizona Revised Statute §15-154, the program is intended to encourage safe and effective learning environments by helping cover the cost of placing school resource officers, juvenile probation officers, school safety officers, counselors, and social workers on school campuses.
Arizona public school districts and charter schools may apply to participate in the program.
Through proactive prevention and intervention strategies, officers funded under the program may:
- maintain a noticeable and accessible presence on school grounds;
- discourage delinquent, disruptive, and violent conduct;
- serve as a safety resource for students, staff, and families; and deliver Law-Related Education instruction and training to students and employees.
These activities are intended to develop constructive relationships among officers, students, educators, administrators, and community members. Effective prevention-focused programs depend on cooperation between schools, teachers, law enforcement agencies, courts, and juvenile probation departments.
School Safety Program Goals and Objectives
Goal: Support a structured school environment where students and employees feel safe and where teaching and learning can take place effectively.
The program seeks to ensure that:
- employees believe their campus is safe, while administrators consistently support, apply, and monitor policies and strategies that preserve or improve school safety;
- students feel protected from physical harm and verbal mistreatment;
- students know that a trusted adult is available when they have a safety concern;
- student concerns are treated seriously and addressed appropriately;
- students and employees have a positive perception of school resource officers and juvenile probation officers.
Deliver Law-Related Education that encourages safety, order, responsible behaviour, and good citizenship.
The program’s objectives include:
- continued oversight by the Arizona State Board of Education to review and provide instructional materials that encourage safe schools, orderly learning environments, and responsible citizenship;
- completion of 180 hours of Law-Related Education instruction by participating officers each year;
- annual participation by officers in an Oversight Committee-approved Law-Related Education academy or course to strengthen their teaching abilities and understanding of suitable classroom lessons.
Title IV-A Safe and Healthy Students Program
The Title IV-A Safe and Healthy Students Program assists Arizona local education agencies and schools in creating learning environments where every student can feel healthy, supported, and secure. The program places particular emphasis on students’ physical health, mental health, safety, and overall well-being.
A healthy and supportive school environment is built by addressing physical and emotional safety, maintaining appropriate academic and disciplinary conditions, and developing respectful, caring, and dependable relationships throughout the school community. This also involves promoting a positive school climate and culture while encouraging meaningful participation from families and community partners.
The Safe and Healthy Students category of Title IV-A may support eligible school security programs and other activities that strengthen student safety and well-being.
Arizona School Emergency Response Plan Requirements
Arizona Revised Statute §15-341(A)(31) requires every school site to develop an emergency operations plan that satisfies the state’s minimum requirements.
The Arizona Department of Education and the Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs are responsible for establishing those minimum standards. Emergency plans must also explain how schools and first responders will communicate with and assist students with disabilities during an emergency.
To help schools comply, the Arizona Department of Education provides minimum-requirements guidance and planning templates outlining the elements that should be addressed in a school emergency operations plan.
These requirements represent the minimum content that each plan must include. They are not intended to serve as a complete, step-by-step method for creating a comprehensive emergency response program. Schools and districts should adapt their plans to their own campuses, risks, students, personnel, and community emergency-response partners.
The funding information and links provided on this page are based on publicly available information at the time of publication. While we make every effort to keep this resource current and relevant, funding programs, eligibility requirements, deadlines, and website links may change over time. If you discover outdated information, inaccurate content, or a broken link, please let us know by emailing info@carehawk.com.