Ohio Awards $9 Million in School Safety Grants
Districts can apply for state funding for training, equipment, and technology under House Bill 96 before the May 28, 2027 deadline.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Financial Aid
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Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson announced more than $9 million in state school safety grants on Monday, approved through House Bill 96 by the 136th Ohio General Assembly. Ohio school districts can seek the funding for the 2027-28 academic year, on a first-come, first-served basis.
Why it matters
The funding is designed to help schools address safety concerns through equipment, technology, and training. Wilson said the grants will strengthen security across Ohio's classrooms.
The program offers a formula-based grant of at least $2,500 per organization or $4.50 per student, whichever is greater, and a program-based grant of up to $40,000 per organization regardless of enrollment. Awards are first-come, first-served until available funds are distributed.
The players
Andy Wilson
Ohio Attorney General who announced the more than $9 million in school safety grants.
Ohio School Safety Center
State body through which Ohio school districts submit applications for the school safety grants.
The details
Eligible uses include training for school resource officers, active shooter preparedness, mental health education, silent panic alarms, gunshot-detection systems, and technology allowing law enforcement to access school security cameras. Projects may also include alert systems for wanted dangerous individuals and license-plate reader notifications involving vehicles registered to sex offenders. Applications are submitted through the Ohio School Safety Center and Ohio Grants Portal.
Timeline
Nov. 2, 2026: Attorney General Andy Wilson announced the school safety grants.
2027-28 academic year: Period for which the school safety funding is available.
May 28, 2027: Application deadline for the school safety grants.
Legal Context
The grants flow from House Bill 96, approved by the 136th Ohio General Assembly, which authorized state funding for school districts to pursue safety projects. The program places the money in the hands of districts through a competitive, first-come, first-served application process.
School districts in Ohio that want to pursue safety projects should apply through the Ohio School Safety Center or Ohio Grants Portal before the May 28, 2027 deadline. Because funding is first-come, first-served, earlier applications may improve the chance of receiving an award.
The takeaway
Districts seeking safety funding should weigh both grant types, since formula-based and program-based awards can be pursued together. Acting before the May 28, 2027 deadline and the first-come, first-served cutoff matters for securing funds.
Further reading
Explore more on Financial Aid to see how other education funding programs work.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Cleveland.
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Should Ohio spend more state money on school safety equipment and training?
