School Safety Enhancement

The School Safety Enhancement Program is administered by the Administration for Children and Families within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on behalf of the U.S. Department of Education. This competitive discretionary grant program is authorized under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and represents a coordinated federal effort to strengthen school safety systems nationwide. The initiative is informed by federal findings, including the Department of Justice’s 2024 report on the Robb Elementary School incident, and is designed to support systemic, state-led improvements in school safety infrastructure and preparedness. The primary purpose of the program is to provide funding to State educational agencies to develop, implement, and enhance statewide school safety systems. The program emphasizes both physical security improvements and coordinated emergency response capabilities. Funded activities include upgrading entry controls, installing deterrent systems such as cameras or metal detectors, enhancing perimeter security, improving visitor screening systems, strengthening emergency communication infrastructure, and advancing emergency response planning. Training and preparedness exercises for school personnel and school resource officers are also central components. These activities must align with evidence-based practices and federal guidance on school safety. Funding under this program is substantial, with approximately 93 million dollars available and individual awards ranging from 500000 to 5000000 dollars over a project period of up to 36 months. The program anticipates making around 30 awards, though this may vary based on application quality and funding availability. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement, which lowers barriers for eligible applicants. However, recipients must adhere to strict funding rules, including a supplement not supplant requirement, a cap on administrative costs at 10 percent annually, and prohibitions on using funds for construction or certain restricted activities such as political advocacy or discriminatory practices. Eligibility is limited to State educational agencies as defined by federal statute, and only one application per state is permitted. While SEAs may choose to administer the program directly, they are also allowed to issue subgrants to local educational agencies to carry out project activities. Applications must demonstrate how the SEA will prioritize high-need districts, align proposed activities with federal safety reports, and implement competitive or noncompetitive subgranting processes if applicable. Applicants must also describe how their projects align with federal school safety recommendations and provide detailed plans for implementation. The application process requires submission through Grants.gov, following federal registration requirements including SAM.gov and a Unique Entity Identifier. Required components include standard federal forms, a project narrative, budget narrative, abstract, and supporting documentation such as resumes and letters of support. Applications are evaluated using a 100-point scoring system based on project design, management plan, adequacy of resources, and evaluation strategy. Reviewers assess the clarity, feasibility, sustainability, and evidence-based nature of proposed activities. The application timeline begins with the availability of the notice on May 27, 2026, and closes on July 28, 2026. Intergovernmental review deadlines extend to September 25, 2026. Applicants are encouraged to begin registration processes early due to potential delays. Award decisions are made following a federal review process that includes eligibility screening and peer evaluation. The program may also make future awards from unfunded applications depending on funding availability. For additional information, applicants may contact the program office via email at school.safety@ed.gov or by phone at (202) 987-1594. The program represents a significant federal investment in improving school safety through coordinated, evidence-based, and state-driven approaches, with a strong emphasis on preparedness, infrastructure, and interagency collaboration.

Align proposal clearly with federal safety priorities; demonstrate measurable outcomes; ensure strong management plan and evaluation design