K-12 School Safety Grant and Funding Crosswalk: Federal and State Programs

A consolidated reference identifying federal and state grant programs that U.S. K-12 school districts can use to procure AI weapons detection, AI video analytics, access control, perimeter intrusion detection, and related physical-security technology. Each entry names the administering agency, statutory authority, most recent appropriation, eligible uses, eligibility, application cycle, and an authoritative URL. Programs vary in whether AI weapons detection and AI video analytics are explicitly named in eligible-use lists; districts should obtain written confirmation from the administering agency before procurement.

Last updated: 20 May 2026 (primary-source verification and gap-closure passes completed). Page maintained by Scylla Technologies Inc.

Review cadence: reviewed and updated within 60 days of major federal grant announcements (typically winter and spring) and on a rolling basis as state legislative sessions conclude.

Companion pages: ASPP PRO White Paper 2026: An Executive Call to Protect Lives, How to Select AI Gun Detection Solutions for Schools, Glossary of Physical Threat Detection.

How to use this page

For each program below, the "Eligible uses" column identifies whether AI weapons detection, AI video analytics, access control, and perimeter intrusion detection are explicitly named, plausibly allowable under a broader category (such as "surveillance," "security technology," or "electronic or other technology"), or excluded. Procurement teams should treat "plausibly allowable" as a starting point and seek written confirmation from the administering agency before contracting. Federal pass-through funding (Title IV-A, STOP, SVPP, NSGP, SHSP) is available to schools in every state and is not duplicated under state sections.

Federal programs

These programs apply to schools in every U.S. state and territory. They are administered by federal agencies and, in several cases, pass through to state agencies for further sub-allocation.

State programs

Alphabetical by state. For each jurisdiction, current state-administered K-12 physical security grant programs are listed. States without a dedicated state-funded program are noted; districts in those states still have access to all federal programs above.

Alabama

Alabama School Safety Supplemental Appropriation and School Security and Fire Safety Fund. Alabama State Department of Education. Ala. Code Title 16, Chapter 22B, Section 16-22B-3 (School Security Act of 2024, SB98); Act 2025-268 (FY25 ETF Supplemental). $15,000,000 one-time per-pupil disbursement under Act 2025-268 (verified per ALSDE State Superintendent Memo dated 25 August 2025); encumbrance deadline 30 September 2026. Eligible uses (per ALSDE guidance): mobile emergency rapid response systems, surveillance upgrades, software security applications - non-personnel safety expenditures only. AI weapons detection and AI video analytics: plausibly allowable under "surveillance upgrades" and "software security applications," subject to ALSDE confirmation; not explicitly named in statute or memo. Eligibility: all Alabama LEAs (auto-disbursed per-pupil); SB98 separately establishes a needs-based grant structure with Green/Yellow/Red security grading. Standalone FY26 base appropriation to the Fund not located as a discrete primary-source line item. URLs: ALSDE memo on Act 2025-268; SB98 enrolled.

Alaska

No dedicated state K-12 physical security grant program located in this research pass. Districts rely on federal pass-through (Title IV-A SSAE, COPS SVPP, BJA STOP) and on regular state foundation funding. Reference: education.alaska.gov/schoolfinance.

Arizona

Arizona School Safety Program (SSP). Arizona Department of Education. A.R.S. Section 15-154. Approximately $128.3M awarded for SY2024-25 supporting 1,086 positions across 1,153 schools. Eligible uses: School Resource Officers, Juvenile Probation Officers, School Counselors, Social Workers, plus safety technology, training, and infrastructure improvements. Staffing-oriented; technology and infrastructure permissible. AI weapons detection: not the primary focus of SSP; confirm in current grant guide. Eligibility: Arizona public schools and charter schools. Three-year cycle, currently SY2026-27 through SY2029-30. URL: azed.gov/ssp.

Arkansas

Arkansas School Safety Grant (LEARNS Act follow-on). Arkansas Division of Elementary and Secondary Education. LEARNS Act of 2023 (Act 237); Rules Governing School Safety effective 1 January 2024. FY25 formula: $25,000 base per LEA plus $19 per student (October 1, 2024 enrollment). Original $50M reserved by 2022 special session. Eligible uses: physical security, visitor management, emergency alert system improvements, mental health, staff training. AI weapons detection and AI video analytics: plausibly allowable under "physical security." Eligibility: all Arkansas public school LEAs. Annual; FY25 application deadline was 28 February 2025. URL: learns.ade.arkansas.gov.

California

No dedicated state K-12 physical-security grant program with annual physical-security earmark located in this research pass. California funds school safety primarily through the LCFF Safety Plan requirement (Ed Code 32280-32289), CalVIP (community violence focus, BSCC), and locally-controlled Title IV-A. State facility bond programs (Prop 2 / 2024) may fund security as part of modernization. Reference: bscc.ca.gov/s_calvip.

Colorado

School Security Disbursement (SSD) Grant. Colorado Office of School Safety, Department of Public Safety. HB22-1120 (codified at C.R.S. Title 24). $2.0M additional via HB24-1430 for FY25; 17 awards. Eligible uses: physical security upgrades, access control, cameras, communications. AI video analytics and AI weapons detection: plausibly allowable as security improvements; confirm against current RFP. Eligibility: public schools, charters, BOCES, eligible nonprofits. Annual. URL: oss.colorado.gov. Additional programs: SAFER Grant (interoperable communications between schools and first responders) and BEST Grant (capital construction with security priority).

Connecticut

School Security Competitive Grant Program (SSCGP). Connecticut DEMHS jointly with Connecticut SDE. Conn. Gen. Stat. 10-292r (program authority via Public Act 13-3, post-Sandy Hook). Funded via GO bond authorization rather than an annual general-revenue line: the standing bond authorization for the School Security Infrastructure Grant Program is $107,000,000, of which Public Act 23-204 (SFY 24-25 biennium budget) gave DESPP discretion to use up to $5,000,000 for multimedia interoperable communications projects. The 2025-2027 biennium bond bill (Public Act 25-174) carries the program's adjusted bond authorization. Public Act 25-157 (effective 1 October 2025) modified the program by requiring applicants to conduct a DEMHS-guideline school assessment and tightened the cap on multimedia-interoperable communications spending. Public Act 25-102 expanded allowable spending to include hardware for emergency response communications systems and personal emergency communication devices (Connecticut's Alyssa's Law alignment, signed 24 June 2025 as SB 1216). Discrete FY25 and FY26 annual cash draws against the bond authorization not surfaced in primary-source documents; the program operates on a bond-draw model rather than recurring GR line. Eligible uses: doors/windows, access control systems, perimeter security (fencing, lighting, bollards), interior/exterior camera systems, ballistic glass, door reinforcement, panic alarm systems, plus (per PA 25-102) emergency response communications and wearable panic alarms. AI video analytics and AI weapons detection: plausibly allowable under camera and access-control categories, not explicitly listed. Eligibility: public schools (K-12), RESCs, state charter schools, state technical high schools, endowed/incorporated academies, nonpublic and private schools, licensed childcare/preschools. Periodic competitive rounds. URLs: DEMHS SSCGP portal; OLR Report 2025-R-0108 (2025 Acts Affecting Education); PA 25-174 (2025-2027 bond bill).

Delaware

No dedicated state K-12 physical-security grant program with current FY26 funding located in this research pass. Delaware School Safety Center coordinates safety planning. Reference: dema.delaware.gov.

Florida

Important compliance note: Florida F.S. 1002.222 prohibits Florida K-12 agencies and institutions from collecting, obtaining, or retaining biometric information from students, parents, or siblings, with narrow exceptions. "Biometric information" is defined to include fingerprint, hand geometry, voiceprint, retinal or iris pattern, and face geometry. This is the only U.S. state statute that outright bars collection of student biometrics at the school-system level and it is the binding constraint for Florida districts considering AI face recognition or other student biometric-capture deployments funded under the programs below. Walk-through weapon detection, metal detectors, ballistic glass, cameras (without face-template generation), access control without biometric enrollment of students, and gunshot detection are generally compatible. Face recognition on students, voice biometrics, and fingerprint-based access for students are not. See the companion K-12 Procurement Compliance Crosswalk for the full Florida treatment.

Safe Schools Allocation (FEFP categorical). Florida Department of Education. Section 1011.62(15), F.S.; Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act (SB 7026, 2018). FY2025-26 allocation: $300M (Governor's budget). Eligible uses: safe-school officer salaries (statutory priority), mental health, physical safety improvements. AI weapons detection and AI video analytics that do not generate biometric templates of students are allowable; face recognition is barred by F.S. 1002.222. URL: fldoe.org.

School Hardening Grant Program. FDOE. Section 1006.07(6), F.S. with annual GAA proviso. FY25-26 approximately $42M. Eligible uses: fixed capital outlay items physically attached to school property and identified in the FSSAT security risk assessment and School Hardening Needs Report. Access control hardware, cameras, perimeter fencing, secure entryways, ballistic glass. AI weapons detection and AI video analytics: must be fixed capital outlay AND identified in FSSAT; traditionally hardware-oriented; AI software/SaaS may not qualify; biometric-capturing systems for students are barred by F.S. 1002.222 regardless of fundability. Eligibility: Florida school districts and charter schools. Annual. URL: fldoe.org/safe-schools/grants/hardening.stml.

Georgia

Georgia School Safety Grant. Currently administered through Governor's Office of Student Achievement / Georgia DOE for the per-school formula (originally GEMA/HS). Annual appropriations act. Amended FY2025 budget added $50M; total $158.9M available in FY2025; per-school amount $68,760 ($47,125 base plus $21,635 supplemental). Cumulative since 2019: $294.07M. Eligible uses: broad school safety expenditures. AI weapons detection, AI video analytics, access control, and perimeter intrusion: plausibly allowable under "school safety"; confirm against current GEMA/GADOE guidance. Eligibility: Georgia K-12 public schools (formula). Annual. URL: gov.georgia.gov.

Hawaii

No dedicated state K-12 physical-security grant program located in this research pass. Hawaii DOE is creating two FTE positions for targeted violence prevention and fire safety/security technology (HI HB627). Hawaii operates as a single statewide district, so traditional "grants to districts" structure is unusual.

Idaho

HISTORICAL. "Securing our Future" / Idaho School Safety and Security Grant. Idaho State Board of Education / Idaho Department of Building Safety School Safety and Security Office. Idaho Code 33-1622 et seq. $20M one-time appropriation by 2023 Legislature; substantially spent. Legislature did not provide safety project grants for SY2025-26. Office continues to provide assessments. URL: schoolsafety.idaho.gov.

Illinois

Illinois School and Campus Safety Grant Program. Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security (IEMA-OHS). Illinois School Code provisions; annual state budget. $25M awarded; 1,312 projects funded. Eligible uses: doors, locks, glass, intrusion-resistance measures, baseline security infrastructure. AI weapons detection and AI video analytics: not primary focus; confirm with IEMA guidance. Eligibility: public elementary, secondary, and post-secondary schools; one application per district. Periodic. URL: ilschoolsafety.org.

Indiana

Secured School Safety Grant (SSSG). Indiana Department of Homeland Security. Indiana Code 10-21 (Secured School Safety Board). $24M+ awarded in most recent cycle to 499 schools; cumulative more than $187M since 2014. FY26 period 1 September 2025 - 31 August 2026. Eligible uses: match grants for SROs, school safety equipment (including access control and surveillance), training, threat assessment, firearms training of staff, active event warning systems. AI weapons detection and AI video analytics: plausibly allowable as "equipment"; verify against FY26 NOFO category list. Eligibility: school corporations, accredited non-public schools, charter schools, coalitions. Annual. URL: in.gov/dhs.

Iowa

WINDING DOWN. Iowa School Safety Improvement Fund (Governor's School Safety Initiative). Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. Iowa Code 256.9C and 256.9D. $100M total initiative (June 2022); funded by ARP/ESSER. 431 awards by end of SFY2025. Application deadline was 31 December 2024; project completion deadline 31 December 2025. FY26+ recurring appropriation status not confirmed in this research pass. Eligible uses (under original program): capital improvements identified in vulnerability assessment - access control, perimeter security, cameras. AI weapons detection and AI video analytics: plausibly allowable as identified vulnerability mitigations. Eligibility: Iowa public school districts and nonpublic/independent schools. URL: homelandsecurity.iowa.gov.

Kansas

Safe and Secure Schools Grant Program. Kansas State Department of Education. K.S.A. 72-6266 et seq. FY2027 budget proposal: $15M enhancement (July 2025). Eligible uses: infrastructure (secured entrances, windows), security technology (cameras, locks, fire alarms, panic buttons, intrusion detection), communications, emergency notification, crisis plans. AI video analytics, intrusion detection, and access control: explicitly allowable. Eligibility: Kansas public school districts and accredited nonpublic schools. URL: ksde.gov.

Kansas AG AI Gun Detection Grant. Kansas Office of the Attorney General. $10M, first-come first-served; equally allocated across the four Kansas congressional districts. Eligible uses: AI gun detection software for Kansas public K-12 schools (explicitly named). Eligibility: Kansas public K-12 schools. URL: Kansas Reflector coverage.

Kentucky

Kentucky School Safety and Resiliency Act (SB 1, 2019) funding stream. Kentucky Department of Education and Kentucky Center for School Safety. KRS Chapter 158 (158.4414 et seq.). Cumulative more than $230M since 2019. FY25/FY26 dedicated school-hardening competitive grant: not located in this research pass; funding flows for SROs, mental health, School Safety Coordinators, SRO certification training, and State School Security Marshal position. Eligible uses (SB 1 framework): SROs, mental health, security risk assessments. AI weapons detection and physical hardening: not a primary SB 1 target; capital security depends on district capital outlay and federal sources. Eligibility: Kentucky public school districts. URL: kycss.org.

Louisiana

Louisiana Center for Safe Schools Grant (formerly Louisiana School and Nonprofit Security Grant Program). Louisiana Department of Education, Louisiana Center for Safe Schools. Annual appropriations. FY24 LSNSGP $5M; FY26 LCSS up to $50,000 per eligible school/BESE-approved site. Louisiana also awarded more than $20M to harden school perimeters in 2024. Eligible uses: security enhancements, perimeter hardening, violence/terrorism mitigation. AI weapons detection, AI video analytics, and access control: plausibly allowable under "security enhancement"; confirm against FY26 NOFO. Eligibility: public schools and BESE-approved school sites. Annual. URL: lasafeschools.la.gov.

Maine

Maine K-12 Cybersecurity Grant. Maine Department of Education. $4.35M state-allocated. Cybersecurity focus, not physical security. No current dedicated state physical-security K-12 grant located in this research pass. Eligibility: Maine SAUs that opt in. URL: mainedoenews.net.

Maryland

Multiple grants administered by the Maryland Center for School Safety (MCSS) and the Interagency Commission on School Construction (IAC): Safe Schools Fund Grant (SSFG); School Safety Grant Program (SSGP, capital); SRO Adequate Coverage Grant; School Facility Mapping Grant; Hate Crimes Grant; Nonpublic School Security Improvement (NPSI) Grant. Maryland Education Article Title 7 Subtitle 15 (Safe to Learn Act of 2018, as amended through 2024 HB 1336 / HB 1390). FY2026 proposed $21.6M total ($8.0M GF + $13.6M Safe Schools Fund). Eligible uses (across grants): access control, cameras, secure vestibules, SROs, school facility / critical incident mapping, threat assessment. AI weapons detection and AI video analytics: not explicitly listed in materials reviewed; SSGP through IAC traditionally funds capital security infrastructure; confirm against current NOFA. Eligibility: Maryland LEAs, local law enforcement (SRO grant), nonpublic/private schools (NPSI), childcare. Annual; FY26 SSGP released 22 July 2025. URL: schoolsafety.maryland.gov.

Massachusetts

Safer Schools and Communities Initiative. Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS), Office of Grants and Research. Approximately $3M to 42 districts in most recent confirmed round (federal pass-through). Eligible uses: building entrance security, interior doors, central communication systems for emergency. Access control allowable; AI weapons detection and AI video analytics: not explicitly listed; confirm with OGR. URL: mass.gov. Additional: Safe and Supportive Schools Grants (DESE Fund Code 335/337) - planning grants only, NOT physical security infrastructure.

Michigan

Section 31aa, School Safety and Mental Health. Michigan Department of Education. MCL 388.1631aa (Section 31aa of the State School Aid Act). FY2025-26 appropriation: $300M from School Aid Fund + $21M General Fund = $321M combined for safety and mental health. Distribution: per-pupil allocations to opted-in districts plus competitive Subsection 4 and 5 grants. Eligible uses: OK-2-SAY anonymous reporting, threat assessment, emergency operations planning, SROs, secure access, security cameras, panic alarms, training. AI weapons detection and AI video analytics: plausibly allowable as school safety expenditure; confirm against FY26 31aa allowable-use list. Eligibility: Michigan public school districts and ISDs; must opt in by 4 December 2025. Annual opt-in plus periodic competitive RFPs. URL: legislature.mi.gov.

Minnesota

School Safety Facility Grants (MDE). Minnesota Department of Education with MN School Safety Center (DPS). Chapter 123B. FY2027 appropriation: $25M from general fund per HF 15 (2025-2026 biennium); up to $500,000 per qualifying school; at least 50% awarded outside seven-county metro; available until 30 June 2028. Eligible uses: design and construction of school safety facility improvements. Access control and intrusion hardware likely allowable; pure software/SaaS such as AI weapons detection may need to be paired with hardware install. URL: education.mn.gov.

School Security Systems Grants (DPS). Minnesota Department of Public Safety with MN School Safety Center. Eligibility: public school districts and charter schools. Applications due 1 August 2025 (most recent confirmed cycle). URL: mnecb.org.

Mississippi

Mississippi Safe and Orderly Schools / School Safety Platform plus MCOPS (Community Oriented Policing Services in Schools). Mississippi Department of Education, Office of Safe and Orderly Schools. Miss. Code Ann. Section 37-3-83 (verified) and Section 37-3-82 (MCOPS / SRO grant). SB 2538 of 2025 (verified bill text) expanded program scope to include mentoring with local law enforcement, mental health screenings, Erin's Law policy adoption, and K-5 stress/anxiety management pilots for SY 2025-26 and 2026-27. FY26 enacted (HB 1768, Section 40): $1,400,000 for continuation of the current school safety platform (statewide anonymous tip and behavioral threat reporting vendor); plus $2,000,000 for MCOPS within the same MDE bill. No discrete FY26 competitive school safety grant line beyond these two items. Districts opt in to the platform rather than competitively applying. Eligible uses (per statute): video surveillance cameras, communications equipment, monitoring equipment for classrooms, school buildings, school grounds, and school buses. AI weapons detection, AI video analytics, and dedicated access control hardware: not explicitly named; the current platform funding is for tip-line and threat-reporting software, not weapons-detection analytics. Eligibility: Mississippi local school districts. Annual subject to legislative appropriation. URLs: HB 1768 enrolled; Section 37-3-83; SB 2538; MDE Safe and Orderly Schools.

Missouri

Missouri School Safety Grant Program. Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Division of Learning Services. Appropriation-driven (no standalone enabling statute); HB 14 of 2023 supplemental ($20,000,000, signed 27 February 2023) and HB 2 of 2023 FY24 ($50,000,000, signed 30 June 2023) verified historically. FY25 final appropriation: $48,345,138 (per Missouri OA FY 2026 DESE budget book). FY26: $0 new appropriation. The Kehoe administration did not recommend continuation funding for the program in HB 2 FY26; the enacted FY26 budget contains no new appropriation. Status: DORMANT in FY26. Existing reimbursement obligations continue to draw down prior-year balances. Notably, Governor Parson vetoed a separate $2,500,000 FY25 line for gun-detection surveillance on procurement-rules grounds; that line did not re-emerge in FY26. Eligible uses (in prior rounds): physical security upgrades and associated technology (door locks, monitoring systems), bleeding control kits, AEDs. AI weapons detection and AI video analytics: plausibly allowable under "monitoring systems"; not explicitly named (and the separate FY25 gun-detection line was vetoed). Eligibility: Missouri LEAs and nonpublic schools (FY24 round included NPS). No FY26 cycle published. URLs: OA FY26 DESE budget book; FY26 Gov Rec Programs Book; DESE program page.

Montana

No dedicated state-administered K-12 physical security grant program located in this research pass. School Safety Professional Development Grant (OPI, Title IV-A federal pass-through) funds professional development only. URL: opi.mt.gov.

Nebraska

School Safety and Security Grant Program (also referred to as the LB 705 program). Nebraska Department of Education. Neb. Rev. Stat. Section 79-3108 (verified). $10,000,000 ORIGINAL one-time appropriation under LB 705 (2023); awarded December 2024 to 165 schools (122 public + 43 nonpublic); funds had to be obligated by 15 August 2025. Companion program: School Emergency Response Mapping Fund created by LB 1329. Eligible uses (explicit per statute and announcement): door locks, secure vestibules, access control, window security film, security cameras, lighting, bollards, phone systems, two-way radios, "Stop the Bleed" kits. AI weapons detection and AI video analytics: not explicitly named; cameras and access control explicitly named. Status: DORMANT for new awards; no reappropriation located in primary sources; statute remains on the books. URL: 79-3108 statute.

Nevada

No dedicated state-administered K-12 physical-security capital grant located in this research pass. Office for a Safe and Respectful Learning Environment (OSRLE) primarily funds mental health, school climate, threat assessment, and bullying-prevention (not capital security). Districts use federal pass-through and Pupil-Centered Funding Plan discretionary funds. URL: doe.nv.gov/offices/osrle.

New Hampshire

Security Action for Education (SAFE) Grant. New Hampshire Department of Education, Bureau of School Facilities. State Public School Infrastructure Fund. FY2026 $5M + FY2027 $5M; Round Four awarded $8M across FY26-FY27. Maximum award $150,000 per school. Eligible uses (Round Four): exterior cameras and monitors; locks, bollards, gates, fencing; blue light emergency alerting systems; public address phone systems; exterior door systems. AI video analytics and AI weapon detection: not explicitly listed; cameras eligible (analytics potentially fundable as part of camera systems subject to NHED approval). Eligibility: K-12 schools statewide. Round Four closed 8 December 2025; expenses complete by 31 December 2026. URL: education.nh.gov.

New Jersey

Securing Our Children's Future Bond Act (SOCFBA) School Security Grant Program. New Jersey Department of Education, Office of School Facilities, with NJSDA. P.L. 2018, c.119 (S2293); N.J.A.C. 6A:26A. Total bond authorization $75M for school security (within $500M SOCFBA total). Eligible uses: Alyssa's Law compliance (panic alarms) PLUS cameras, intercoms, door-locking systems, exterior lighting, vestibules. AI weapons detection and AI video analytics: not explicitly listed but plausibly within camera/access control categories. Eligibility: public K-12 districts; Alyssa's Law compliance is a precondition. URL: nj.gov.

Alyssa's Law mandate, P.L. 2019, c.33. NJSDA compliance portal: njsda.gov.

New Mexico

No dedicated state-administered K-12 physical security capital grant program located by name in this research pass. Public School Capital Outlay Council (PSCOC) administers the Public School Capital Outlay program; SB 131 (2023) appropriated $25M for "public school safety" plus $75M for local school priorities (security infrastructure eligible). NMPED Safe and Healthy Schools Bureau provides resources. URL: ped.nm.gov.

New York

Important compliance note: The September 27, 2023 NYSED Commissioner's Determination prohibits the purchase or use of facial recognition technology by NY public and nonpublic schools. Other biometric identifying technology requires local determination. See companion K-12 Procurement Compliance Crosswalk.

Smart Schools Bond Act (SSBA). New York State Education Department, Smart Schools Review Board. SSBA of 2014 (voter referendum, 4 November 2014). $2,000,000,000 total statewide authorization. Eligible security uses: "high-tech security tools" including entry control systems, video surveillance systems, emergency classroom notification systems. AI video analytics: plausibly allowable under "video systems" subject to NYSED SSIP approval; facial recognition is prohibited per the 2023 NYSED Determination. Eligibility: public school districts. Rolling SSIP review; recent tranches $24.8M, $27M, and $31.4M. URL: nysed.gov SSBA.

Nonpublic School Safety Equipment (NPSE) Grant. NYSED. $45,000,000 Year 10 (verified); Y11 anticipated to remain at $45M per NYSED guidance, including approximately $6.8M for competitive RFP and the remainder for per-pupil allocations. Eligible uses (explicit): metal detectors/wands, cameras and affiliated recording devices, central lockdown, remote electronic door unlatching system (access control), alarm systems, motion detectors, panic buttons, parent notification systems, public announcement system, visitor intercoms, walkie-talkies/radios, external lighting, secured building entrance components. AI weapons detection beyond metal detectors and AI video analytics: not explicitly enumerated; cameras and access control explicit. Eligibility: nonpublic (religious and independent) schools only. URLs: NPSE program page; NPSE Y10 guidance.

North Carolina

School Safety Grants Program. Administered by the NC Center for Safer Schools (CFSS), which moved from NCDPI to the NC State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) under NC DPS effective December 2024 per SB 382 override. NC Session Law 2023-134 (HB 259), Section 7.36; reversion date for unspent grant funds extended to 30 June 2027 by SL 2025-89 (HB 125, enacted 6 August 2025). FY26 enacted: $10,000,000 non-recurring to SBI for the School Safety Grants Program (per NC OSBM Public Safety budget highlights). Materially lower than the $35,000,000 FY24-25 level. Governor Stein's 2025-27 recommended budget proposed an additional $20,000,000 in school safety grants through SBI, but as of May 2026 NC has been operating under continuing/mini-budget legislation rather than a full biennium budget. AI capability explicitly named: Eligible equipment expressly includes "weapons detection systems," cameras, and entry control equipment. Separately, a directed FY25 grant of $3,200,000 to New Hanover County Schools and $2,000,000 to Davidson County Schools funded an AI School Safety Pilot Program with explicit AI capabilities: threatening object detection, intruder detection, person-down detection, open-door detection, tag and track, facial recognition, forensic face search, license plate recognition. AI weapons detection and AI video analytics: explicitly named in both statute and pilot scope - one of the strongest authorizations in this crosswalk. Eligibility: NC public school units (LEAs) and charter schools. Annual application administered by SBI/CFSS. URLs: NC OSBM Public Safety FY26 budget highlights; SL 2025-89 (HB 125); CFSS at SBI.

North Dakota

No standalone state-administered K-12 physical security capital grant located in this research pass. North Dakota Office of Homeland Security administers federal SHSP; schools may be eligible sub-recipients. 2025 legislative activity: HB 1583 (69th Assembly) on school safety plans and property-tax authority. URL: nd.gov/dpi.

Ohio

Ohio Attorney General FY26 School Safety Grants (two-track: Formula-Based and Program-Based). Administered by the Ohio Attorney General's office and the Ohio School Safety Center (OSSC, under the AG), NOT by OFCC. Authorized under HB 96 of the 136th General Assembly (FY26-27 main operating budget, signed 30 June 2025). FY26-27 total available: $9,010,000. Two grant types: (1) formula grant of $2,500 or $4.50 per student (whichever greater); (2) program-based grant up to $40,000 per district. Application deadline 29 May 2026; first-come, first-served until funds exhausted. Eligible uses (explicit): systems allowing immediate camera access to responding law enforcement, silent panic alarms, gunshot detection technology, license plate reader alerts for vehicles belonging to registered sex offenders, alert systems warning of wanted dangerous individuals. AI weapons detection: gunshot detection (a form of AI sensor analytics) explicitly named; video-based AI weapons detection plausibly within "immediate camera access to law enforcement" and "alert systems" categories. Eligibility: Ohio public and nonpublic schools, applied via Ohio Grants Portal. URLs: Ohio Grants Portal listing; AG news release announcing $9.01M; DEW notice.

OFCC has a separate role in capital construction security upgrades (not this $9.01M grant). Historical context: original $5M one-time appropriation under SB 310 (133rd GA) plus a $100M ARPA expansion in 2022; $53M tranche awarded 2022; $4.8M round announced June 2024.

Oklahoma

Oklahoma School and Campus Safety and Security Grant Program. Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (ODEMHS) / Oklahoma School Security Institute (OSSI). $20M per SB 101 (ODEMHS); maximum $50,000 per applicant. Eligible uses: improvements recommended in an OSSI risk and vulnerability assessment, including "technology for communicating real-time data to local emergency response authorities during an active threat." AI weapons detection and AI video analytics: plausibly eligible if recommended in OSSI assessment. Eligibility: public schools, technology centers, private schools, IHEs; OSSI assessment required (must be completed by 1 July 2026). URL: oklahoma.gov. Additional SRO grant program approximately $285,000 per district in recent cycles; pending 2026 legislation seeks to make $50M/year permanent.

Oregon

Wireless Panic Alarm Grant (Oregon's Alyssa's Law). Oregon Department of Education, School Safety and Emergency Management. HB 3083 (2025); $2.5M one-time General Fund (2023). Per-school award up to $2,000. Eligible uses: wireless or wearable panic alarm systems connecting to 911. Eligibility: Oregon K-12 public and private schools with 50+ students. URL: oregon.gov/ode. Additional: School Safety and Prevention System (SSPS) - bullying/suicide/threat assessment programmatic focus, NOT capital.

Pennsylvania

School Safety and Security Grant Program. Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD), in partnership with the School Safety and Security Committee. 24 P.S. Section 13-1306-B (Public School Code of 1949 as amended by Act 44 of 2018 and Act 55 of 2022); School Safety and Security Fund at Section 1306-B(h); Grant Program at Section 1306-B(a); eligible uses at Section 1306-B(j). FY2025-26: $100,000,000 for publicly funded schools plus $20,700,000 for nonpublic schools plus $2,500,000 for nonpublic AED training (verified per PCCD funding announcement). Application deadline 28 January 2026. Eligible uses include explicitly named "weapons detection technology" along with access control, security personnel, behavioral health supports, training, and threat assessment. AI weapons detection: explicitly named under 24 P.S. Section 13-1306-B(j) - one of the clearest statutory authorizations in the country. AI video analytics: plausibly within broad physical security enhancement category. Act 55 of 2022 requires compliance with Level 1 baseline criteria before expending on other categories. The $100M public-school portion is a formula-based (non-competitive) award for approximately 775 eligible school entities. Eligibility: Pennsylvania school districts, charter schools, intermediate units, area career and technical schools, certain nonpublic schools. URLs: PCCD $160M FY25-26 announcement; FY25-26 announcement PDF; 24 P.S. Section 13-1306-B.

Rhode Island

No dedicated state-administered K-12 physical security capital grant located in this research pass. RIDE-administered school safety funding in recent years has been federal pass-through (BSCA Stronger Connections - $4.8M across 12 LEAs through 30 September 2026). RIEMA administers federal NSGP. URL: ride.ri.gov.

South Carolina

School Safety Funding (Proviso 1.77). South Carolina Department of Education. FY25-26 General Appropriations Act Proviso 1.77. Additional $21.1M recurring + $8.3M non-recurring in FY25-26; cumulative approximately $60M+. Eligible uses (per Proviso 1.77): classroom/internal door locks, secure entry and access control, window covers, bulletproof glass or film, "electronic or other technology," ballistic-proof doors. AI weapons detection and AI video analytics: plausibly within "electronic or other technology"; confirm with SCDE. Eligibility: public school districts and charter school districts (charter eligibility clarified in FY25-26 Proviso). Districts submit priorities list to State Board by 31 December 2025 (extended deadline). FY26 SCDE budget request seeks $120M permanent funding. URL: ed.sc.gov.

South Dakota

Status: NOT FUNDED. Governor Noem's FY26 proposal would have created a five-year, $2,000,000 annual state-funded grant program (HB 1035, 2025 session). The South Dakota Joint Appropriations Committee rejected the proposal on 21 February 2025. No state-funded SD school safety grant program for FY26. South Dakota schools may still apply for federal pass-through funding (COPS SVPP, BJA STOP, BSCA Stronger Connections) administered by the SD DPS Office of Homeland Security. The 2025 federal SHSP window opened 1 January 2025; deadline 14 February 2025; awards September 2025. URLs: South Dakota Searchlight on rejection; SD DPS Homeland Security grants.

Tennessee

School Safety Grant Program (post-Covenant 2023 expansion) and Safe Schools Act funding. Tennessee Department of Education, Office of Safe and Supportive Schools. 2023-24 budget included $140M for SROs, $40M for public school security upgrades, $14M for private. FY25-26 added approximately $20M school safety + $4M nonpublic. SB 873 (2024) authorizes walk-through detector / scanner grants. Eligible uses: SROs, security upgrades, walk-through weapon detection / scanners (explicitly named under SB 873). AI weapons detection and AI video analytics: plausibly within "security upgrades"; SB 873 path is cleaner for walk-through scanner technology specifically. Eligibility: Tennessee public school districts and approved nonpublic schools. Annual. URL: tn.gov; also governor priorities.

Texas

School Safety Allotment. Texas Education Agency. Texas Education Code Section 49.215 (created HB 3, 88R, 2023; expanded 89R, 2025). FY25-26: $20 per ADA plus $33,540 per campus (raised from $10/ADA + $15,000 per campus). Eligible uses: school safety and security including, per TEA guidance, exterior door and access control upgrades, communications, security personnel, and "active threat detection" technology. AI weapons detection and AI video analytics: plausibly allowable as active threat detection; confirm against current TEA TAA. Eligibility: Texas public school districts and open-enrollment charter schools. Annual formula. URL: tea.texas.gov.

Safety and Facilities Enhancement (SAFE) Grant. TEA. Application/needs assessment process ongoing through TEA; supports capital safety improvements identified through district vulnerability assessments. URL: tea.texas.gov SAFE TAA.

SB 838 (88R, 2023) silent panic alert requirement effective school year 2025-26 (Texas's Alyssa's Law equivalent).

Utah

School Safety and Support Grant. Utah State Board of Education, Utah School Safety Center. Utah Code 53F-5-220. $100M one-time + $2.1M ongoing (March 2024). FY25 application closed 31 January 2025; FY26 cycle ongoing. Eligible uses: enhancement of physical safety and security (cameras, access control, hardening). AI weapons detection and AI video analytics: plausibly within "physical safety and security" subject to School Safety Center approval. Eligibility: Utah LEAs (public school districts and charters); designated school safety specialist and building safety assessment required. URL: schools.utah.gov.

Vermont

School Safety and Security Grant (Act 42 Capital Bill). Vermont Agency of Education / Vermont School Safety Center. Vermont Capital Bill - Act 42 (renewed/extended through H.401/Act 42 signed 2 June 2025). $4M most recent commitment. Per-school maximum $25,000; 25% match required. Eligible uses: purchase of enhancements to existing security systems, school infrastructure, or new security technology. AI cameras and access control within scope subject to AOE approval. Eligibility: Vermont public, private, and independent schools and supervisory unions. URL: schoolsafety.vermont.gov.

Virginia

Public School Security Equipment Grant Act. Virginia Department of Education. Va. Code Section 22.1-280.2:2 ("Public School Security Equipment Grant Act of 2013"). FY25-26 $12M across 433 schools / 99 divisions; cumulative since FY22 approximately $60M across 1,132 schools. Per-division maximum $250,000. Eligible uses: mass notification systems, security card access systems, visitor ID badging systems, surveillance cameras, bus-mounted cameras, security vestibules, non-structural building modifications. AI video analytics and AI weapons detection: plausibly within "surveillance" and "security equipment"; confirm with VDOE. Eligibility: local school divisions, regional vocational centers, special-ed centers, alternative-ed centers, Governor's Schools, Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind. Annual; FY25-26 reimbursements due 30 June 2026. URL: doe.virginia.gov; statute at law.lis.virginia.gov.

Washington

School Security and Preparedness Infrastructure Grant (SSPI). Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI). SB 5003 / SB 5004 (2025 Regular Session); SB 5004 signed 19 May 2025 (Washington's Alyssa's Law). FY25-26 round $6M total; up to $500,000 per award; biennial per-district cap $2M. Application deadline 12 November 2025. Eligible uses: enhanced entrance and door security including panic buttons; consolidation of entry points; repair/upgrade of physical security infrastructure; infrastructure to expedite law enforcement responses. AI weapons detection and AI video analytics: plausibly within "physical security infrastructure"; panic buttons explicitly eligible (Alyssa's Law alignment). Eligibility: Washington public school districts including charter and state-tribal education compact schools. Annual report to legislature beginning 1 December 2025. URL: ospi.k12.wa.us.

West Virginia

Safe Schools Fund. West Virginia Department of Education and WV School Building Authority. W. Va. Code Section 18-5-48 (Safety and Security Measures for School Facilities; Safe Schools Fund created). FY26 status: Governor Morrisey signed HB 2026 (FY26 budget bill) on 17 April 2025, exercising line-item veto authority 29 times to cut approximately $37,700,000 in total spending. Among those vetoes, the Safe Schools program was reduced by $200,000 and an additional $200,000 was cut from school mapping services. Earlier in April 2025, the WV House Finance Committee had removed $1,250,000 of school safety funding from a separate vehicle (HB 3369). WVDE's overall FY26 budget was reduced by approximately $8,500,000 from the prior year. The $252,000,000 figure reported by WV Watch (12 November 2025) represents total county-level requests in WVDE's 2024-25 Safety and Security Report, NOT an enacted appropriation. The WV School Building Authority is separately allocating approximately $43,500,000 across 31 counties for FY26-related projects (an SBA capital pool, not the Safe Schools Fund itself). Specific pre-veto / post-veto line in HB 2026 enrolled not pulled in this pass; confirm by reading the Department of Education sub-line items in HB 2026 enrolled or by contacting wvbudget@wv.gov. Statute directs first-priority use to video cameras in special education classrooms per Section 18-20-11; broader eligible uses ("safety and security measures of each facility shall be upgraded when necessary") accommodate weapon detection systems, cameras, and access control. AI weapons detection: explicitly named in WVDE-accepted county request categories per November 2025 reporting; not explicitly named in statute. Eligibility: county boards of education, public charter schools, multicounty vocational center councils. URLs: HB 2026 enrolled (FY26 budget); W. Va. Code Section 18-5-48; MetroNews on Morrisey 29 vetoes; WV Watch $252M county requests.

School Access Safety Funding (SBA Section 206). WV School Building Authority. Eligible uses: planning, deterrence, detection, delay, and communication improvements. Requires county-level School Access Safety Plan and prior audit.

School Safety Mapping Program (HB 3166). WV Department of Education. Up to $4,500 per school (reimbursement). Eligible uses: standardized school safety maps. Statutory compliance deadline 1 September 2026. URL: crgplans.com.

Wisconsin

School Safety Grants (Office of School Safety, 2025-27 biennium). Wisconsin Department of Justice, Office of School Safety. Wis. Stat. Section 165.88; 2025 AB 40. $30M; maximum $20,000 per applicant. Program sunsets 1 July 2027. Subprogram for atypical/unusual acts or threats of school-related violence with submission deadline 30 June 2026. Eligible uses: improve safety of school buildings; security training. AI weapons detection and AI video analytics: not explicitly listed but within scope of "safety of school buildings." Eligibility: public school boards, governing bodies of private/charter/tribal schools. Preference for applicants who have not previously received a DOJ grant. URL: doj.state.wi.us.

Critical Incident Mapping Data Grants. Wis. Stat. Section 165.88(3m). Reimbursement for digital school mapping data; project period ends 30 June 2026.

Wyoming

Capital Construction and Major Maintenance for School Security. Wyoming State Construction Department, School Facilities Division. School Foundation Program capital construction and major maintenance funding. FY27-28 biennium (2026 HB 105): $237.9M K-12 major maintenance and $155.9M K-12 capital construction. Two paths for security: Capital Construction Funds (SCD Facility Planning, annual) and Security Major Maintenance Funds (AiM major maintenance approval, ongoing). Eligible uses: security improvements aligned with the 2014 Security Standards for Wyoming K-12 Schools and the 2015 Wyoming K-12 Schools Security Remedy Guide. AI weapons detection and AI video analytics: not explicitly named; districts must align with state security standards. Eligibility: Wyoming public K-12 school districts. URL: stateconstruction.wyo.gov.

District of Columbia

No dedicated standalone District-administered K-12 physical-security capital grant located in this research pass. DCPS Office of School Security is operational. OSSE administers federal and District grants but no dedicated FY26 K-12 security capital grant identified. DC schools access federal programs (COPS SVPP, BJA STOP, Stronger Connections) as available nationally. URL: osse.dc.gov.

Cross-cutting notes

AI-specific statutory language is rare. Most state statutes still use generic terms (surveillance equipment, cameras, video systems, access control, electronic or other technology). AI weapons detection and AI video analytics typically need to be justified as a sub-type of an enumerated category and approved by the administering agency. The clearest pathways - where statute or program guidance names the technology directly - are:

● Pennsylvania 24 P.S. Section 13-1306-B(j) - PCCD School Safety and Security Grant; "weapons detection technology" explicitly named in eligible-use list. ● Kansas AG AI Gun Detection Grant - $10M; "AI gun detection software" named in program title. ● West Virginia W. Va. Code Section 18-5-48 program guidance - Safe Schools Fund; "weapon detection systems" named in WVDE-accepted county request categories. ● North Carolina SL 2023-134, Section 7.36 (plus directed AI Pilot grants) - "weapons detection systems," cameras, and entry control equipment explicitly named in allowable equipment. Directed FY25 grants of $3.2M to New Hanover County Schools and $2M to Davidson County Schools fund an AI School Safety Pilot with explicit capabilities (threatening object detection, intruder detection, person-down detection, facial recognition, forensic face search, license plate recognition). ● Ohio AG / Ohio School Safety Center FY26 School Safety Grants (administered by AG, not OFCC) - $9.01M; "gunshot detection technology," "immediate camera access to responding law enforcement," and "alert systems" explicitly named. ● Tennessee SB 873 (2024) - authorizes walk-through detector / scanner grants. ● Texas TEA School Safety Allotment guidance - "active threat detection" technology authorized.

Currently active programs with the clearest physical-security capital pathways: Alabama Act 2025-268, Arizona SSP, Colorado SSD, Florida Hardening, Georgia School Safety Grant, Indiana SSSG, Kansas (both KSDE and AG), Louisiana LCSS, Maryland MCSS/IAC, Michigan Section 31aa, Minnesota MDE/DPS, New Hampshire SAFE, New Jersey SOCFBA, New York SSBA + NPSE, North Carolina (under 2023-2025 biennium funds extended through June 2027), Ohio (AG grants for 2026-27 academic year), Oklahoma OSSI, Pennsylvania PCCD (FY25-26 $120.7M for security), South Carolina Proviso 1.77, Tennessee, Texas SSA + SAFE, Utah School Safety and Support, Vermont Act 42, Virginia 22.1-280.2:2, Washington SSPI, West Virginia Safe Schools Fund + SBA Section 206 (FY26 enacted appropriation unconfirmed), Wisconsin DOJ OSS, Wyoming SCD capital/major maintenance.

Programs explicitly tied to Alyssa's Law (panic alert with direct 911/law enforcement linkage): Connecticut (SB 1216 of 2025), New Jersey (mandate with SOCFBA funding), Oregon Wireless Panic Alarm Grant, Tennessee SB 838, Washington SB 5004 + SSPI.

No active dedicated state K-12 physical-security capital grant identified in this research pass: Alaska, California (no dedicated annual grant), Delaware, Hawaii, Maine (cybersecurity only), Montana, Nevada, New Mexico (general capital outlay only), North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota (HB 1035 rejected February 2025), District of Columbia. Districts in these jurisdictions still have access to all federal programs. Nebraska's $10M one-time program is dormant pending legislative renewal; Missouri's program is confirmed dormant in FY26 with $0 new appropriation (FY25 final $48,345,138).

Compliance note: All AI security technology procurement is also subject to a separate set of federal and state compliance constraints (NDAA Section 889, FERPA, COPPA, state biometric privacy laws, school-specific face recognition restrictions in New York and Colorado, and state student data privacy laws). See companion K-12 Procurement Compliance Crosswalk for the full constraint map before contracting.

Methodology

This page consolidates published federal and state program information current as of the update date. Dollar figures, statutory citations, and URLs were drawn from primary government sources (agency program pages, enacted statutes, annual NOFOs, appropriations bills) wherever possible, with secondary sources used and flagged where primary sources were not located in this research pass. No new calculations have been performed beyond consolidation.

Verification and gap-closure passes completed 20 May 2026. Federal figures verified to primary sources: Title IV-A SSAE FY25 ($1.38B per ED FY2026 Budget Summary and P.L. 119-4), Project SERV FY25 (up to $5M reservation per ED FY25 Safe Schools and Citizenship Education budget justification and CRS IF10992), JAG FY25 (approximately $346M total per CRS IF10691 and BJA solicitations O-BJA-2025-172541 and O-BJA-2025-172542). State figures verified: Alabama ($15M Act 2025-268 per ALSDE memo), Pennsylvania ($100M public + $20.7M nonpublic FY25-26 per PCCD), New York NPSE ($45M Y10 per NYSED Y10 guidance), Mississippi ($1.4M FY26 platform continuation plus $2M MCOPS per HB 1768 Section 40), Missouri (FY25 final $48,345,138; FY26 $0 new appropriation per OA FY26 DESE budget book), North Carolina ($10M FY26 NR per NC OSBM Public Safety highlights; FY25 directed AI Pilot $3.2M New Hanover + $2M Davidson confirmed), Ohio AG/OSSC FY26 ($9.01M total via Ohio Grants Portal; administered by AG, not OFCC), West Virginia ($200K Safe Schools line-item veto and $200K mapping cut by Governor Morrisey on 17 April 2025 per multiple state press accounts), Connecticut SSCGP (program funded via $107M bond authorization rather than recurring GR line; modified by PA 25-157, 25-102, and 25-174 in 2025 session), Nebraska statute (Neb. Rev. Stat. 79-3108), South Dakota FY26 status (HB 1035 rejected). One field remains for direct enrolled-bill PDF review: the exact pre-veto and post-veto WV Safe Schools Fund line in HB 2026 enrolled. Procurement teams should call the named administering agency to confirm program status, current funding, and eligible uses before contracting.

Updates: this page is reviewed and updated within 60 days of major federal grant announcements (typically winter and spring NOFO releases) and on a rolling basis as state legislative sessions conclude.

Errata: corrections welcome via the Scylla contact form. Each correction is logged with the original value, corrected value, source, and date of change.

Frequently asked questions

Which states have a dedicated K-12 school safety grant for physical security technology?

As of May 2026, states with an active state-administered K-12 physical-security grant program include Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut (bond-authorized rather than annual GR), Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa (winding down), Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi (platform continuation $1.4M plus MCOPS $2M FY26), New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York (face recognition prohibited), North Carolina ($10M FY26 NR), Ohio ($9.01M via AG/OSSC), Oklahoma, Oregon (Alyssa's Law focus), Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia (reduced by line-item veto FY26), Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Programs currently dormant or not funded for FY26: Missouri ($0 new appropriation; FY25 final $48,345,138), Nebraska (one-time $10M obligated by August 2025), South Dakota (HB 1035 rejected), Iowa (project completion deadline December 2025). States without a dedicated state-funded program in this research pass: Alaska, California (no dedicated annual grant), Delaware, Hawaii, Maine (cybersecurity only), Montana, Nevada, New Mexico (general capital outlay only), North Dakota, Rhode Island, and the District of Columbia.

Which programs explicitly fund AI weapons detection or AI video analytics?

The clearest explicit authorizations as of May 2026 are: Pennsylvania PCCD School Safety and Security Grant (24 P.S. Section 13-1306-B(j) explicitly names "weapons detection technology" in eligible uses, with $120.7M committed for FY25-26 across public and nonpublic schools); the North Carolina School Safety Grants Program under SL 2023-134 Section 7.36 (statute explicitly names "weapons detection systems" in eligible equipment; directed FY25 AI Pilot grants of $3.2M to New Hanover County and $2M to Davidson County fund explicit AI capabilities including threatening object detection, intruder detection, facial recognition, forensic face search, and license plate recognition); the Ohio Attorney General / OSSC FY26 School Safety Grants ($9.01M, explicitly naming gunshot detection technology, immediate camera access to law enforcement, and alert systems); the Kansas Attorney General's AI Gun Detection Grant ($10M, names AI gun detection software directly); the West Virginia Safe Schools Fund under W. Va. Code Section 18-5-48 (WVDE-accepted county request categories explicitly include weapon detection systems); the Tennessee SB 873 walk-through scanner grant pathway; and Texas TEA School Safety Allotment guidance authorizing "active threat detection." Most other programs allow AI-based detection and analytics as plausible sub-types of broader categories like "surveillance," "security technology," "electronic or other technology," or "access control," subject to written agency confirmation.

What is the difference between BJA STOP and COPS SVPP?

Both are authorized under the STOP School Violence Act of 2018. The BJA strand funds training, anonymous reporting systems, and threat assessment teams. The COPS strand (SVPP) funds physical security technology directly: locks, lighting, metal detectors, deterrent measures, and "technology for expedited notification of law enforcement during an emergency." For AI weapons detection, AI video analytics, and access control, the COPS SVPP path is the cleaner federal channel

Can Title IV-A be used to buy school security cameras and AI weapons detection?

Some access control and emergency communication equipment is plausibly allowable, but ED and state guidance discourage large capital purchases. AI weapons detection and AI video analytics are not explicitly authorized; LEAs must justify under "improve school conditions" with state approval. Title IV-A is not a dedicated security-technology vehicle.

Can a public K-12 district apply for the DHS Nonprofit Security Grant Program?

No. NSGP is restricted to 501(c)(3) nonprofits. Private, parochial, or religious K-12 schools operating under a 501(c)(3) are eligible and frequently receive awards; public school districts are not eligible.

Which states have Alyssa's Law and what does it fund?

Alyssa's Law (silent panic alarms connecting directly to law enforcement) has been enacted in multiple states with associated funding pathways. Confirmed funding paths in this research pass: New Jersey (mandate with Securing Our Children's Future Bond Act, $75M school security tranche), Oregon (Wireless Panic Alarm Grant, $2.5M, $2,000 per school), Tennessee (SB 838 panic alert requirement, effective SY2025-26), Washington (SB 5004 + School Security and Preparedness Infrastructure Grant, $6M FY25-26). Other states have passed Alyssa's Law without a dedicated state funding line.

When do most state grants open for applications?

Application cycles vary widely. Many states release annual NOFOs in the spring or summer with autumn deadlines. Federal programs (BJA STOP, COPS SVPP, NSGP) typically open in winter or spring and close in spring or early summer. The single most important step in a procurement plan is identifying the specific cycle calendar for each program of interest and tracking it year over year.

How do I confirm whether AI weapons detection is eligible under a specific grant?

Three steps. First, read the program's current Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) or grant guidance and search for "weapon detection," "video analytics," "AI," "surveillance," and "access control" in the eligible-uses list. Second, if AI weapons detection is not explicitly named, identify the closest broader category the technology fits under (commonly "surveillance equipment," "security technology," or "electronic or other technology"). Third, submit a written eligibility question to the administering agency and retain their written confirmation in the procurement file. Many programs have technical assistance staff specifically for pre-application questions.