Michigan Schools Tap State Funds for Safety Technology
New guidance helps districts leverage state grants to expand school safety and emergency response capabilities.
Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Financial Aid
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Should your local school district increase investment in rapid-response technology for student and staff safety?
CENTEGIX has released a funding guide to assist Michigan school districts in utilizing Section 31aa grants for safety technology implementations. This initiative supports districts as they deploy wearable panic badge systems to enhance emergency communication.
Why it matters
Districts identified critical gaps in communication when staff could not reach phones or radios during emergencies, prompting a move toward wearable alert systems. These grants help schools address student mental health and physical safety needs as required by state law.
Eligible districts may apply FY27 Section 31aa funding toward emergency response tools as of October 1. CENTEGIX reports that its systems now protect 18 million people across the nation.
The players
CENTEGIX
This incident response company specializes in wearable safety technology for school environments.
Rochester Community Schools
This Michigan district serves approximately 15,000 students across 22 individual facilities.
Forest Hills Public Schools
This school district is an early implementer of wearable safety badge technology for staff.
The details
Staff members utilize wearable badges to trigger instant alerts during medical or behavioral incidents, a system that saw seven activations during its first week at Forest Hills Public Schools. Rochester Community Schools, which manages 22 facilities for 15,000 students, is among the districts integrating these safety capabilities.
Timeline
2022: CENTEGIX began tracking site growth in Michigan.
October 1, 2026: Districts became eligible to apply FY27 Section 31aa funding.
October 21, 2026: CENTEGIX released the Michigan Section 31aa Funding Guide.
Culture Shift
The adoption of wearable safety tech reflects a broader shift toward proactive, technology-driven emergency response in educational environments. This move positions school safety as a primary operational priority supported by long-term state legislative funding cycles.
Parents and staff in participating districts may see new safety protocols involving wearable devices in classrooms and common areas. These systems are designed to reduce emergency response times by providing staff with immediate, mobile communication tools.
The takeaway
School safety technology is increasingly shifting toward decentralized, wearable alerts that allow for immediate assistance. Districts are encouraged to review state funding guidelines to determine if these tools align with their current safety committee assessments.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest resources for Financial Aid programs available to local districts.
More information
View the Michigan school safety funding guide for detailed application instructions.
Live Poll
Should your local school district increase investment in rapid-response technology for student and staff safety?
