Pennsylvania State Funding
State Funding
Pennsylvania supports school safety through grant programs that help schools improve physical security, strengthen student mental health supports, train staff, and meet statewide school safety expectations.
PA FY26-27 School Safety & Mental Health Grants
The School Safety and Mental Health Grant is a noncompetitive funding program for eligible public school entities, including school districts, intermediate units, career and technical centers, charter schools, regional charter schools, and cyber charter schools.
Funding is generally distributed through a base allocation plus enrollment-based supplements. The program is designed to help school entities address both physical security and student mental health needs.
Key Details
- Application Deadline: October 16, 2026
- Grant Details (click here)
Allowable uses may include:
- physical security upgrades;
- student behavioral health and mental health services;
- safety-related staff training;
- school climate improvements;
- violence prevention activities;
- threat assessment and safety planning;
- emergency preparedness;
- activities connected to PCCD’s physical security and behavioral health Baseline Criteria.
The goal is to help schools create safer, more supportive learning environments while addressing the safety and mental health needs identified in their local planning process.
Targeted School Safety Grant
The Targeted School Safety Grant is a competitive program focused on improving safety and security for nonpublic schools in Pennsylvania.
Eligible applicants may include nonpublic schools directly, as well as municipalities, law enforcement agencies, and approved vendors applying to support security needs at nonpublic schools.
Funding may support projects such as:
- school security personnel;
- physical security improvements;
- emergency preparedness;
- safety equipment and technology;
- violence prevention programs;
- training;
- mental health supports;
- other eligible activities allowed under Pennsylvania’s school safety grant rules.
For the FY2025–26 Targeted School Safety for Nonpublic Schools program, eligible applicants could request up to $75,000 over a two-year project period. PCCD’s funding announcement listed an application deadline of March 30, 2026, so that round should now be described as closed unless a new cycle is announced.
Pennsylvania Panic Alarm Proposals
In 2024, Pennsylvania lawmakers introduced Senate Bill 1206 and House Bill 1974, both of which proposed amendments to the Public School Code of 1949 related to panic alarm systems in schools.
If enacted, the proposals would require public school buildings to be equipped with panic alarm systems for use during school security emergencies, including non-fire evacuations, lockdowns, active shooter situations, and other life-threatening events.
The proposed systems would need to connect directly with the local law enforcement agencies designated as first responders for the school campus and immediately transmit an alert or message when activated.
As of July 2026, these 2024 proposals should not be presented as current Pennsylvania law. They are best described as proposed panic alarm legislation unless a newer enacted statute is confirmed.
Pennsylvania School Safety and Security Act
ACT 44
Pennsylvania passed the School Safety and Security Act, known as Act 44, in 2018. The law created the School Safety and Security Committee within the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency to help guide school safety efforts across the Commonwealth.
The committee is responsible for supporting school safety programs, administering grants, developing assessment criteria, and maintaining baseline standards for physical security and behavioral health.
Over time, additional amendments to Pennsylvania’s school safety laws have expanded the committee’s responsibilities and added requirements related to safety planning, school security personnel, trauma-informed approaches, training standards, threat assessment, and school safety grants.
Baseline Criteria for School Safety
Pennsylvania’s School Safety and Security Committee developed Baseline Criteria Standards to help schools evaluate and prioritize their physical security and behavioral health needs.
The criteria are organized into multiple levels, from basic safety elements to more advanced school safety practices. These standards are intended to help school entities identify gaps, plan improvements, and determine how grant funding may be used for eligible safety and mental health activities.
Allowable uses may include:
- Physical Security Baseline Criteria, which focus on school building security, emergency communication, visitor control, access control, surveillance, safety procedures, and related safety infrastructure.
- Behavioral Health Baseline Criteria, which focus on school climate, student support, behavioral health services, threat assessment, crisis response, and prevention strategies.
Examples of Physical Security Priorities
Pennsylvania’s physical security criteria may include items such as:
- school safety and security assessments;
- emergency preparedness plans;
- law enforcement coordination;
- visitor access procedures;
- secure doors and entry points;
- exterior lighting;
- camera coverage;
- emergency communication systems;
- staff and security personnel training;
- access-control procedures;
- visitor management systems;
- door alarms;
- two-way emergency communication;
- accommodations for students and staff with special needs;
- regular safety reviews and drills;
- panic alarms or emergency alert systems where appropriate;
- secure communication with law enforcement;
- ongoing safety training.
Purpose of the Standards
The purpose of Pennsylvania’s school safety framework is to help schools move beyond one-time security upgrades and toward a more complete safety model. This includes physical security, emergency planning, staff training, behavioral health support, threat prevention, law enforcement coordination, and clear communication during emergencies.
Schools seeking funding should review the current PCCD baseline criteria and grant guidance before planning projects, because eligible uses and funding requirements may change by grant cycle.
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.