South Carolina State Funding
State Funding
South Carolina supports school safety through state appropriations, school facility funding, technology initiatives, safety planning requirements, and emergency preparedness guidance.
SCDE School Safety Priority Funds
The South Carolina Department of Education administers School Safety Priority Funds under Proviso 1.77 of the FY2025–2026 Appropriations Act.
This funding is intended to help public school districts improve school safety and security. Districts may use approved allocations for eligible safety priorities connected to school facilities, emergency preparedness, security technology, and other measures that strengthen protection for students, staff, and visitors.
Schools should review current SCDE application guidance to confirm allowable expenses, deadlines, documentation requirements, and distribution procedures.
School Safety Infrastructure Funds
South Carolina has previously used state lottery funds for school life-safety infrastructure projects. These funds supported facility improvements designed to harden school buildings and improve emergency response.
Eligible project examples included:
- keyless entry systems;
- exterior and interior door upgrades;
- classroom security or intruder-function door locks;
- first-responder radio coverage improvements;
- other approved life-safety infrastructure needs.
Because the listed lottery-funded infrastructure program is tied to an earlier appropriation cycle, it should be described as a previous funding pathway unless SCDE announces a new round.
K–12 School Technology Initiative
The South Carolina K–12 School Technology Initiative supports technology needs across public schools, including infrastructure, connectivity, devices, and technical assistance.
For school safety purposes, this initiative may be relevant when a district’s technology needs overlap with emergency communication, network infrastructure, or campus-wide connectivity. However, districts should confirm current program rules before using technology funds for safety-specific communication systems or emergency notification tools.
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.
2022 Model Safe School Checklist
South Carolina’s Model Safe School Checklist helps districts evaluate and strengthen safety procedures, emergency readiness, and school security practices.
The checklist supports a comprehensive approach to school safety, including prevention, protection, mitigation, response, and recovery. Districts are expected to review safety plans, assess procedures, and identify areas where schools may need improvement.
South Carolina public school districts are required to complete the annual Model Safe School Checklist and submit updated plans to the State Department of Education by September 1 each year.
Required Safety and Security Drills
South Carolina law requires public schools, including applicable charter schools, to conduct fire drills, active shooter/intruder drills, and severe weather or earthquake drills.
Within each school year, schools must conduct at least:
- two fire drills;
- two active shooter/intruder drills
- two severe weather or earthquake drills.
At least one of each drill type must be conducted each semester.
Crisis Management and Emergency Planning
South Carolina school safety planning should address the full emergency management cycle: preparedness, response, recovery, prevention, and intervention.
Schools should maintain emergency response plans, train staff and students on procedures, coordinate with law enforcement and first responders, and review plans regularly. Effective planning may include lockdown procedures, evacuation routes, reunification planning, emergency communication, threat assessment, anti-bullying strategies, mental-health supports, and recovery planning after a crisis.
Security and Technology
South Carolina school safety guidance recognizes the importance of securing school buildings and monitoring access to campus.
Safety improvements may include controlled entry procedures, security cameras, door-locking systems, emergency communication tools, radio coverage for first responders, visitor management procedures, and other technologies that support faster response during an emergency.
These tools should be part of a broader safety plan that also includes training, drills, prevention strategies, mental-health supports, and coordination with public safety partners.
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.