Michigan State Funding
State Funding
Michigan provides school-safety funding through statewide education appropriations, targeted safety-assessment support, student mental-health and safety funding, and federally supported nonprofit security grants.
FY2026 Education Budget: School Safety and Mental Health
Michigan’s FY2026 education budget includes significant funding for student mental health and school safety. Section 31aa allocates $321 million for these priorities, including $300 million for public schools and $21 million for nonpublic schools.
These funds are intended to help eligible schools improve student safety, expand mental-health supports, strengthen threat prevention, and support safer learning environments. Depending on program rules and local needs, funding may support staff, safety planning, emergency response systems, behavioral health services, and other approved school-safety initiatives.
Michigan’s FY2026 budget also includes broader school infrastructure funding, which may create additional opportunities for districts planning facility upgrades, safety improvements, and building-related security projects.
Section 97c: School Safety and Security Assessments
Section 97c provides targeted funding to help Michigan schools complete independent school safety and security assessments.
Eligible districts, intermediate districts, public school academies, and nonpublic schools may receive reimbursement of up to $2,000 per school building for contracted safety and security assessments.
These assessments may review physical security, emergency preparedness, school procedures, building conditions, and other areas that affect the safety of students and staff. Funding is reimbursement-based and subject to program rules, available funds, and application requirements.
Section 31aa: Student Mental Health and School Safety Funding
Section 31aa provides per-pupil funding for eligible Michigan schools to support student mental health and school safety.
For FY2026, the program includes funding for districts, intermediate districts, nonpublic schools, and the Michigan School for the Deaf. Eligible entities must opt in to receive funds.
Allowable uses may include:
- hiring or contracting mental-health support staff;
- implementing mental-health screening tools;
- improving student safety systems;
- supporting emergency response systems;
- contracting for safety assessments;
- coordinating with local law enforcement;
- training staff on threat assessment and threat response;
- improving crisis communication;
- purchasing safety infrastructure such as cameras, door-security hardware, hardened vestibules, and related access-control technology;
- using secure platforms to organize emergency operations plans, safety documents, assessments, and related school-safety materials.
Schools should review the current Michigan Department of Education guidance before planning expenditures, because eligibility requirements, reporting rules, and allowable uses may vary by fiscal year.
Michigan Nonprofit Security Grant Program
NSGP
The Michigan Nonprofit Security Grant Program is part of the federal FEMA Nonprofit Security Grant Program and is administered at the state level by Michigan State Police Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division.
The program provides competitive funding for eligible nonprofit organizations that face an elevated risk of terrorist or extremist attacks. Eligible applicants may include qualifying nonprofit private schools, faith-based organizations, nonprofit healthcare facilities, and other eligible 501(c)(3) organizations.
Funding may support physical security enhancements, cybersecurity improvements, emergency preparedness, facility hardening, and security-related training. Eligible projects may include access control, surveillance systems, alarms, alert systems, physical barriers, security planning, and related preparedness measures.
For FY2026, Michigan’s application deadline was July 8, 2026. As of mid-July 2026, this application window has closed. Organizations should check Michigan State Police Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division for future NSGP funding rounds.
Michigan School Safety Task Force
Michigan’s School Safety Task Force issued final recommendations in 2018 to help improve school safety across the state. The task force focused on policy, planning, infrastructure, training, student well-being, and coordination among schools, law enforcement, and community partners.
The recommendations encouraged schools to:
- conduct physical security assessments;
- improve interior and exterior security measures;
- strengthen emergency operations planning;
- align with state safety guidance and compliance requirements;
- clarify roles for school safety personnel;
- use anonymous reporting resources such as OK2SAY;
- expand training for safety and security staff;
- improve collaboration between educators and public-health professionals;
- support student behavioral-health screening;
- promote safe and supportive learning environments.
These recommendations continue to influence Michigan’s broader approach to school safety, which combines physical security, mental-health support, threat prevention, emergency planning, and community coordination.
K–12 Behavioral Threat Assessment Training
The Michigan State Police Office of School Safety provides Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management training for K–12 public, charter, and private school teams.
This training helps school-based teams identify concerning behavior, assess potential threats, engage students and families, and work collaboratively to reduce risk before a situation escalates.
Michigan’s school-safety approach places strong emphasis on prevention, early intervention, mental-health awareness, and coordinated response among schools, families, law enforcement, and community partners.
Michigan Office of School Safety
The Michigan State Police Office of School Safety supports K–12 schools through training, resources, technical assistance, and planning tools.
Its work includes school safety toolkits, emergency operations planning guidance, behavioral threat assessment support, school safety academies, and resources connected to physical security, crisis response, violence prevention, and recovery.
The office promotes collaboration between schools and law enforcement to help create safer learning environments and improve preparedness for emergency situations.
Recommended School Safety Measures
Michigan school-safety resources and national best-practice guidance emphasize that safe schools require both physical protection and support for student well-being.
Recommended safety measures may include:
- comprehensive school safety assessments;
- campus, building, and classroom security;
- positive school climate initiatives;
- anonymous reporting systems;
- coordination with first responders;
- behavioral threat assessment and management;
- school-based law enforcement partnerships;
- mental-health resources;
- emergency drills;
- social media or threat-monitoring procedures where appropriate and legally compliant.
Together, these measures help schools address risks before, during, and after a potential emergency while supporting a safer and more supportive school environment.
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.