New Jersey State Funding
State Funding
New Jersey supports school safety through state law, public-school security funding, and dedicated nonpublic-school security aid. These programs help schools improve emergency response, physical security, and communication with law enforcement.
Securing Our Children’s Future Bond Act Grant
SOCFBA
The Securing Our Children’s Future Bond Act authorized bond-funded grants for several education-related capital needs, including school security improvements.
For school-security purposes, the program helped eligible public school districts complete upgrades connected to Alyssa’s Law and broader school-security needs. Eligible improvements could include panic alarms, security cameras, secure entryways, and other approved facility-security projects.
This funding should be described as a bond-funded grant opportunity rather than an ongoing annual program.
School districts were also required to demonstrate Alyssa’s Law compliance through the New Jersey Department of Education process, regardless of whether they applied for a security grant.
Nonpublic School Security Program
NPSSP
The Nonpublic School Security Program provides state aid for security services, equipment, and technology at qualifying nonpublic schools in New Jersey.
Under the program, the local public school district is responsible for providing eligible security support to qualifying nonpublic schools located within its boundaries, within the limits of available state funding.
Security services, equipment, and technology may be provided directly by the district, through an educational services commission, or through an independent contractor.
Alyssa’s Law in New Jersey
New Jersey enacted Alyssa’s Law in 2019. The law requires public elementary and secondary school buildings to be equipped with silent panic alarms or approved emergency mechanisms that notify law enforcement during a life-threatening or emergency situation.
The law is named in memory of Alyssa Alhadeff, one of the students killed during the 2018 attack at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.
A panic alarm is defined as a silent security signal manually activated to alert law enforcement of an emergency requiring immediate response.
The purpose of the law is to reduce response time and improve coordination between schools and law enforcement during serious emergencies.
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.