School Safety Funding Resources for K–12 Districts
Explore federal, state, and local funding opportunities that can help schools improve safety, emergency response, and campus security.
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 If you discover outdated information, inaccurate content, or a broken link, please let us know by emailing info@carehawk.com.
Funding for School Safety Communication Projects
Many school safety funding sources may support projects that improve how schools communicate during emergencies.
For districts planning communication upgrades, this may include public address and intercom systems, emergency notification, mass notification, visual alerts, panic alert coordination, districtwide communication, and infrastructure that helps staff and first responders respond faster.
State Funding
State funding programs can help school districts pay for safety improvements, emergency communication tools, security technology, infrastructure upgrades, and other measures that support safer learning environments. Availability, eligibility, and approved uses vary by state, so schools should review the funding options listed for their location.
Hawaii
No State Funding available
Illinois
No State Funding available
Louisiana
No State Funding available
Maine
No State Funding available
Massachusetts
No State Funding available
Minnesota
No State Funding available
Montana
No State Funding available
Nevada
No State Funding available
New Hampshire
No State Funding available
Rhode Island
No State Funding available
South Dakota
No State Funding available
Vermont
No State Funding available
Washington D.C.
No State Funding available
Wyoming
No State Funding available
Federal Funding
Federal funding programs may help K–12 schools and state education agencies support school safety planning, emergency preparedness, violence prevention, and security infrastructure. For districts evaluating communication-based safety projects, the most relevant opportunities are often those connected to emergency communication, public address and intercom systems, mass notification, visual notification, panic alert coordination, and districtwide response systems.
Federal School Safety & Violence Prevention Grants
School Safety Enhancement Program
The School Safety Enhancement Program provides competitive federal funding to State Educational Agencies to develop, implement, and strengthen statewide school safety systems and the physical security of schools.
The FY2026 program includes an estimated $93 million in total funding, with approximately 30 awards expected. Funding may support statewide efforts related to school infrastructure security, emergency response planning and coordination, preparedness exercises, and training for school personnel and school resource officers.
This is not a direct grant for individual school districts. Eligible applicants are State Educational Agencies, and only one application per state is permitted. However, state-led projects may create opportunities for districts when school safety initiatives include emergency communication, public address and intercom systems, mass notification, visual notification, panic alert coordination, or districtwide response infrastructure.
The FY2026 application period is closed. Schools and districts should monitor future funding cycles and state-level school safety initiatives connected to this program.
COPS School Violence Prevention Program
The COPS School Violence Prevention Program provides federal support for school safety improvements in K-12 environments. Funding may be available to states, local governments, school districts, federally recognized tribal governments, and public agencies.
This program can help fund evidence-based safety initiatives and technology designed to reduce school violence and improve emergency response.
Eligible safety measures may include:
- coordination with local law enforcement
- training for law enforcement officers
- physical security improvements such as locks, lighting, and deterrent measures
- technology that helps notify law enforcement quickly during an emergency
- other security improvements approved by the COPS Office.
BJA STOP School Violence Grant Program
The BJA STOP School Violence Grant Program supports projects that help schools prevent, recognize, respond to, and reduce acts of violence. The program may fund evidence-based school safety solutions, threat assessment processes, crisis intervention teams, and security technology.
Eligible applicants may include state and local governments, independent school districts, tribal governments, certain nonprofit organizations, higher education institutions, and other units of local government.
Funding may support:
- anonymous reporting systems, such as hotlines, websites, apps, and other reporting tools
- school threat assessment programs
- multidisciplinary safety and intervention teams
- training for school staff and officials
- training related to bullying, student violence prevention, social-emotional learning, and crisis response
- support personnel connected to school violence prevention
- safety technology and school security infrastructure
- other measures approved by BJA
Higher education institutions may be eligible to apply, but the funding is intended for initiatives that support K-12 schools or students, not general campus safety projects.
OJJDP Enhancing School Capacity to Address Youth Violence Grant
This grant program supports evidence-based prevention and intervention efforts that help schools address youth violence. Its goals include reducing school violence, improving school safety and climate, and helping prevent youth violence, delinquency, and victimization in the community.
Education Funding Sources
Title I, Part A
Title I, Part A provides federal education funding to schools with high numbers or high percentages of students from low-income families. Its main purpose is to help all students receive a fair, high-quality education and close achievement gaps.
In schoolwide program schools, Title I funds may be used for school safety when the safety initiative is connected to the school’s comprehensive plan. Schools typically need to complete a needs assessment and show how the safety improvement supports the broader goals of the Title I plan.
Title IV, Part A
Title IV, Part A funding is designed to help states and local education agencies provide students with a well-rounded education, improve school conditions, and support effective technology use.
A portion of Title IV, Part A funds may be used for programs connected to safe and healthy students. This can include school safety, student wellness, and learning environment improvements. The page also notes that Title II, Part A funds may be transferred into Title IV, Part A, which can create another path for supporting school safety initiatives.
IDEA
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act supports services for infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities, as well as their families.
School safety technology may align with IDEA goals when it supports emergency preparedness, accessible communication, and faster response for students with disabilities. This can be especially relevant during behavioral, medical, or emergency situations where timely support is needed.
Stronger Connections Grant Program
The Stronger Connections Grant Program was created through the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. It supports safer, healthier, and more supportive learning environments for students, educators, and school staff.
The program provides funding to state education agencies, which then award subgrants to high-need local education agencies. Funding may support evidence-based plans that improve school climate, student wellness, safety planning, and violence prevention.
Possible funded initiatives may include:
- school safety assessments
safety plans and strategies
positive school climate programs - student wellness supports
bullying, violence, and hate prevention programs - staff well-being initiatives
- trauma-informed training
The program also emphasizes community input, especially from communities facing barriers or higher levels of need.
Emergency Preparedness & Homeland Security Funding
Nonprofit Security Grant Program
The Nonprofit Security Grant Program is administered by FEMA and is designed to help nonprofit organizations at higher risk of terrorist attacks or extremist violence improve physical security.
Funds may be used for eligible physical security improvements. Public schools are not eligible for this program. Eligible nonprofit organizations must apply through their State Administrative Agency rather than directly through FEMA.
State Homeland Security Grant Program
The State Homeland Security Grant Program is part of the broader Homeland Security Grant Program and is administered by FEMA. It provides funding to state, local, tribal, and territorial governments to improve preparedness, prevention, protection, response, and recovery capabilities related to terrorism and other emergencies.
Applicants generally apply through their State Administrative Agency. Not all states allow schools to access this funding directly, so districts should check with their state agency.
Funding may support:
- emergency operations planning
- emergency response protocols
- equipment purchases
- preparedness and response equipment
- training programs
- emergency exercises and simulations
FEMA Targeted Violence & Terrorism Prevention
The Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention Grant Program is administered by the Department of Homeland Security. It supports evidence-based strategies that help prevent targeted violence in communities, including schools.
For K-12 schools and their community partners, this program may support proactive prevention strategies, early intervention, and long-term violence prevention.
Eligible uses may include:
- behavioral threat assessment training
- implementation of threat assessment processes
- multidisciplinary intervention teams
- community education and engagement
- violence prevention planning
- technology that supports early threat detection and faster response
Congressional & Community Project Funding
K–12 Congressionally Funded Community Projects
The K–12 Congressionally Funded Community Projects program supports specific education projects identified through the federal appropriations process. These projects are tied to named recipients and approved project purposes, rather than being a general formula grant for all school districts.
For school safety, this type of funding may be relevant when a proposed project involves districtwide emergency communication infrastructure, public address and intercom systems, emergency notification, visual notification, mass notification, or other communication systems that support safer school operations.
The FY2026 application package was released on March 25, 2026, and the application deadline was May 11, 2026, so the FY2026 application period is now closed. However, this program remains useful for districts, education organizations, and community partners planning future congressionally directed funding requests.
Appropriations Requests / Community Project Funding
School districts and local government entities may be able to request direct federal funding for safety and security projects through their U.S. Senators or Representatives.
These requests are different from competitive grants. They are usually submitted as community project funding or earmark requests and may be added to the federal budget to support local priorities.
Examples of eligible projects may include panic alert systems, emergency communication tools, security improvements, and other school safety initiatives.
Because submission windows often occur early in the year, districts should begin planning early and contact congressional offices to understand each office’s specific process.
Grant Writing & Funding Assistance
Greenlights Grant Initiative
The Greenlights Grant Initiative is focused on increasing awareness of school safety grants and helping school districts access resources and tools for stronger grant applications.
The initiative may provide fully funded grant writing support for certain districts, especially those with high need and limited capacity. Districts may be considered based on factors such as poverty rates, access to mental health professionals, recent exposure to natural disasters or traumatic events, geographic diversity, lack of prior federal grant experience, and immediate need for grant writing support.