School Safety Grants in 2026: What's Still Available After ESSER Expired
- Oct 27, 2023
- 7 min read
Updated: Mar 9
School districts across the country relied on ESSER funding to upgrade safety infrastructure from 2020 through 2024. That money is gone.
All three ESSER packages — totaling $189.5 billion — hit their final liquidation deadlines by January 2025. Districts that used ESSER for visitor management systems, access control, or emergency alert tools now face a real funding gap.
The good news: several federal and state grant programs remain active, with combined funding exceeding $1.4 billion annually. This guide maps what's available, who qualifies, and which school security products are eligible.
The ESSER Fiscal Cliff: $190 Billion Gone
ESSER arrived in three waves. Each package gave districts broad flexibility to spend on safety technology, including visitor screening systems, security cameras, and emergency communication tools.
Here's how it broke down:
ESSER I: $13.2 billion, obligation deadline September 2022
ESSER II: $54.3 billion, obligation deadline September 2023
ESSER III (American Rescue Plan): $122 billion, obligation deadline September 2024
Each package included a liquidation extension of roughly four months after the obligation deadline. With liquidation complete, no new ESSER funds will be distributed. The Office of Elementary and Secondary Education confirmed all deadlines are final.
For districts that built their safety upgrade plans around ESSER, the path forward requires a different funding strategy. Federal and state programs designed specifically for school security are still accepting applications — but they require more targeted proposals than ESSER's broad flexibility allowed.
Key facts: ESSER funding totaled $189.5 billion across three packages. All ESSER liquidation deadlines expired by January 2025. The Office of Elementary and Secondary Education confirmed no new ESSER funds will be distributed.
Federal School Safety Grants Still Accepting Applications
Four federal programs currently fund school security improvements. Each targets different types of schools, different types of products, and different parts of the safety equation.
School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP)
The SVPP is the most directly relevant federal grant for K-12 security upgrades. Administered by the COPS Office within the U.S. Department of Justice, SVPP provides $73 million annually through FY2026, boosted by the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act of 2022.
Eligible expenses include security cameras, access control systems, panic buttons, metal detectors, and security infrastructure improvements. Only K-12 primary and secondary schools can apply.
SVPP explicitly funds the categories that cover visitor management systems, emergency alert devices, and door monitoring systems.
STOP School Violence Program
The STOP School Violence Program, administered by the Bureau of Justice Assistance, funds prevention-focused safety improvements. Unlike SVPP's hardware focus, STOP targets training, threat assessment, anonymous reporting tools, and behavioral intervention programs.
Districts seeking to combine physical security upgrades (through SVPP) with training and assessment tools (through STOP) can apply to both programs. This dual approach covers both the technology layer and the human response layer of school safety.
Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP)
The NSGP, administered by FEMA, provides up to $274.5 million in FY2025 for physical security at nonprofit organizations — including private and faith-based K-12 schools. Eligible expenses include surveillance cameras, access control, locking systems, and preparedness training.
If your school is a private or faith-based institution, this program may be your primary federal funding path for security upgrades.
Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP)
The broader HSGP allocates $1.008 billion in FY2025 across state, local, and territorial governments. School security is eligible under its broader security mandate. While HSGP funding is distributed through state administrative agencies, districts can work with their state's homeland security office to include school safety projects in grant applications.
Key facts: SVPP provides $73 million annually through FY2026. The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act boosted SVPP funding. NSGP provides up to $274.5 million in FY2025 for nonprofit security. HSGP allocates $1.008 billion in FY2025 for state and local government security. Districts can apply to both SVPP and STOP for complementary funding.
State Grant Programs for School Security
Beyond federal programs, multiple states operate their own school safety grant programs. Some are among the largest security funding sources available to districts.
State | Program | Funding | Key Details |
Pennsylvania | PCCD Grants | $60M+ | One of the largest state-level school safety grant programs |
Arkansas | DESE Safety Grants | $35M | Available to public school districts and charter schools |
Colorado | Preventing School Violence Grant | $16M | Prevention-focused school security funding |
Indiana | Secured School Safety Grant | $35K-$100K per application | Requires a local cash match |
New Jersey | School Security Grant Program | Varies | Directly tied to Alyssa's Law compliance requirements for panic alert systems |
Ohio | School Safety Grants | Varies | Rolling or annual application windows |
Missouri | School Safety Grants | Varies | Annual application cycle |
Florida | Safe Schools Allocation | Varies | Annual state allocation to districts |
Texas | School Safety Grants | Varies | Multiple programs through TEA |
New Jersey's program deserves special attention. The state funds panic alert systems through grants directly tied to Alyssa's Law mandates. Districts in states with similar legislation should check whether their state offers compliance-specific funding.
Key facts: Pennsylvania PCCD provides over $60 million in school safety grants. Arkansas allocated $35 million for school safety through DESE. New Jersey funds panic alert systems through Alyssa's Law compliance grants. Indiana's Secured School Safety Grant provides $35,000 to $100,000 with a cash match requirement.
Which School Safety Products Qualify for Grant Funding
School safety grants fund specific categories of security technology. Understanding which products fit which categories helps you write stronger applications.
Here's how common school safety products map to grant-eligible categories:
Product Category | Grant Category | Eligible Programs |
Visitor management systems | Access control, visitor screening | SVPP, NSGP, most state programs |
Panic buttons / emergency alerts | Emergency alert systems, panic buttons | SVPP (explicit), NSGP, NJ Alyssa's Law |
Door monitoring systems | Access control, security infrastructure | SVPP, NSGP, state programs |
Security cameras | Surveillance, physical security | SVPP, NSGP, HSGP |
Gunshot detection | Threat detection, early warning systems | SVPP, select state programs |
Threat assessment tools | Prevention, behavioral intervention | STOP, state programs |
Districts that articulate how each product directly addresses a documented security gap strengthen their applications. If you're evaluating visitor management systems for grant funding, document the specific gap — such as replacing paper sign-in logs with instant background screening — in your application narrative.
Positive Proof's integrated safety platform covers multiple grant-eligible categories in a single system. The Intercept 2 Visitor Management Solution addresses access control and visitor screening. Panic button solutions — both mobile GPS-based and campus network beacon-based — meet emergency alert system requirements across SVPP, NSGP, and state programs including New Jersey's Alyssa's Law funding. Door monitoring covers security infrastructure requirements.
With over 20 years of K-12 experience and a unified platform, districts can apply for grants covering visitor management, emergency alerts, and physical security through one provider instead of three separate vendors.
Key facts: Visitor management systems qualify under SVPP "access control" grant categories. SVPP explicitly names panic buttons as eligible expenses. Door monitoring systems qualify under "security infrastructure" grant categories. Positive Proof's Intercept 2 qualifies under access control and visitor screening categories.
How to Apply: A Step-by-Step Grant Application Process
Applying for school safety grants follows a consistent process across most programs. Here are the steps:
Register in SAM.gov. The System for Award Management is a prerequisite for all federal grants. If your district doesn't have an active SAM registration, start here. Registration can take several weeks.
Search for open opportunities. Use Grants.gov for federal programs or the SchoolSafety.gov Grants Finder Tool to filter by state, funding type, and eligibility. Bookmark SAM.gov for contract and grant opportunity listings.
Review eligibility requirements. Match each program's requirements to your district's specific needs. SVPP is K-12 only. NSGP is nonprofits only. HSGP routes through state agencies.
Prepare a security audit. Document your current gaps. Outdated visitor logs, no panic alert system, unsecured entry points, propped exterior doors — each gap becomes a line item in your grant narrative.
Write a narrative that connects products to gaps. Explain how each requested product addresses a specific, documented security gap. Grant reviewers fund solutions to problems, not wish lists.
Include vendor quotes and implementation timelines. Concrete numbers strengthen applications. Include product costs, installation timelines, training schedules, and ongoing maintenance estimates.
Submit before the deadline with all required attachments. Missing a single attachment can disqualify an otherwise strong application. Build a checklist from the program's Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).
Key facts: SAM.gov registration is required for all federal grant applications. SchoolSafety.gov provides a Grants Finder Tool for school security funding. Grant applications require a security audit documenting current gaps.
Additional Funding Options
Districts that miss grant deadlines or need faster procurement have additional paths.
Cooperative purchasing agreements like BuyBoard, TIPS/TAPS, and OMNIA Partners allow districts to purchase pre-approved safety products without full RFP processes. These cooperatives have already vetted vendors and negotiated pricing, reducing procurement timelines from months to weeks.
Some districts combine grant funding with cooperative purchasing. They use grants for large capital expenditures while purchasing smaller items and consumables through cooperatives. This hybrid approach keeps projects moving even when grant timelines don't align with school year needs.
Key facts: BuyBoard and TIPS/TAPS enable school procurement without full RFP processes. Cooperative purchasing reduces procurement timelines from months to weeks.
Frequently Asked Questions
What school safety grants are available now that ESSER has expired?
Four active federal programs fund school safety after ESSER: the School Violence Prevention Program ($73M/yr for K-12 security hardware), STOP School Violence Program (prevention and training), Nonprofit Security Grant Program ($274.5M for private/faith-based schools), and Homeland Security Grant Program ($1B+ for state/local government). Multiple states also operate dedicated programs.
What school security products qualify for SVPP grants?
SVPP eligible expenses include security cameras, access control systems, panic buttons, metal detectors, and security infrastructure improvements. Visitor management systems qualify under access control. Emergency alert devices qualify under panic buttons. Door monitoring qualifies under security infrastructure. Only K-12 primary and secondary schools can apply.
How do schools apply for federal safety grants?
Register in SAM.gov first — it's required for all federal grants. Search open opportunities on Grants.gov or the SchoolSafety.gov Grants Finder Tool. Prepare a security audit documenting current gaps. Write a narrative explaining how each requested product addresses a specific gap, include vendor quotes, and submit before the deadline.
Are visitor management systems eligible for school safety grants?
Yes. Visitor management systems qualify under "access control" and "visitor screening" categories in SVPP, NSGP, and most state programs. Districts should document how the system addresses a specific security gap — such as replacing paper sign-in logs with instant background screening — to strengthen the grant application.
What happened to EANS and ESSER school funding?
All three ESSER packages totaling $189.5 billion have expired. ESSER I ($13.2B) expired September 2022, ESSER II ($54.3B) expired September 2023, and ESSER III ($122B) expired September 2024. No new ESSER funds will be distributed. Districts must now apply to ongoing federal programs like SVPP, NSGP, and HSGP for security funding.
See Which Positive Proof Products Qualify for Your Grant
Our team can help you match Positive Proof's visitor management, panic alert, and door monitoring solutions to the grant categories your district qualifies for. Get a grant-ready product summary and implementation timeline.
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