Arkansas State Funding
State Funding
Arkansas provides funding, training, and planning resources to help public school districts and open-enrollment charter schools strengthen campus security, improve emergency preparedness, and create safer learning environments.
Arkansas Mobile Panic Alert Proposal
HB1492
Arkansas lawmakers introduced HB1492 in February 2025.
The proposed legislation would have required public school districts and open-enrollment charter schools to implement mobile panic alert systems.
Under the amended bill, the systems would have needed to:
- connect with local Public Safety Answering Point infrastructure;
- transmit 911 calls and mobile emergency activations;
- support rapid coordination between schools and first responders.
The proposal did not become law. HB1492 was withdrawn and later recommended for additional study during the legislative interim.
Arkansas Mobile Panic Alert Proposal
The Arkansas LEARNS Act, signed into law in March 2023, introduced broad changes to the state’s education system, including expanded support for school-safety training and resources.
The legislation supports cooperation between the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Arkansas Center for School Safety to provide schools and law enforcement personnel with guidance, professional development, and safety resources.
DESE School Safety Grant
The Arkansas Division of Elementary and Secondary Education provides formula-based funding to eligible public school districts and open-enrollment charter schools for approved safety improvements.
For the 2025 grant cycle, eligible local education agencies received a base allocation of $25,000, plus $19 per enrolled student. Schools were required to submit a spending plan outlining how the funds would support Arkansas’s school-safety priorities.
Approved funding could be used for eligible measures such as:
- campus security improvements;
- emergency communication systems;
- safety equipment and technology;
- staff training;
- other projects included in an approved School Safety Application Plan.
The 2025 funding cycle has closed, so schools should consult the Arkansas Department of Education for information about future funding opportunities.
Arkansas School-Safety Priorities
Arkansas’s school-safety efforts focus on three primary areas:
Funding Safety Improvements
The state has distributed grant funding to help districts implement priority safety measures and address identified security needs.
Supporting School Districts
The Safe Schools Unit provides school districts with guidance, professional learning, monitoring, and technical support as they implement safety procedures.
Strengthening Crisis Planning
Arkansas supports the development of statewide and local crisis-response plans that clearly define the responsibilities of schools, law enforcement, emergency services, and other community partners.
School Safety Assessments
Schools must complete a comprehensive safety assessment every three years. The review evaluates areas such as:
- exterior and interior building security;
- access control;
- surveillance and monitoring;
- emergency communication;
- information security;
- emergency operations plans;
- school climate and culture.
The assessment must be reviewed by district leadership or the charter school’s governing body.
School Safety Plans
Each district must develop and maintain a school-safety plan addressing:
- emergency-response procedures;
- crisis management;
- prevention and mitigation strategies;
- communication protocols;
- coordination with emergency responders.
Training and Emergency Drills
Schools must prepare employees and students to respond to emergencies. Arkansas law requires an annual lockdown drill for a possible campus threat, along with other safety training and drills required by state law.
Coordination With First Responders
School districts are expected to work with law enforcement, fire departments, emergency-management officials, and other response agencies when assessing risks and developing emergency procedures.
This cooperation can improve communication, clarify responsibilities, and support a faster, more coordinated response during an emergency.
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.