INDIANA — The Indiana Secured School Safety Board has unanimously approved more than $26.9 million in state funding to support 499 school safety projects across Indiana.
The awards mark the latest funding cycle for the Secured School Safety Grant Program, which has distributed nearly $242 million to more than 5,000 Indiana schools since its creation in 2013.
“I want Indiana to set the standard for keeping kids safe at school, and this funding, which includes nearly $20 million for school resource officers, will go directly toward achieving that goal,” Governor Mike Braun said. “Combined with the work of the Office of School Safety I established last year, we’re giving schools the people, training, and tools they need to create safe, welcoming environments.”
Due to eligible funding requests exceeding the program’s available budget this year, awarded schools received 86% of the funding requested for their top-priority items. Applicants ranked their project priorities during the application process to help the board target areas of highest need.
The Indiana Department of Homeland Security administers the matching grant program, requiring local school districts to cover 25%, 50%, or 100% of project costs based on enrollment size and grant type.
2026 Grant Allocations by Category
- School Resource Officers / Law Enforcement: $19,951,039.07 (332 projects)
- Equipment, Technology & Hardware: $5,206,312.81 (118 projects)
- Student & Parent Support Services: $1,211,608.10 (32 projects)
- Design & Construction Updates: $541,513.31 (11 projects)
- Staff Firearms Training: $21,597.57 (5 projects)
- Bullying Prevention: $2,150.00 (1 project)
- Total: $26,934,220.86 (499 projects)
“I’m excited to see continued resources supporting school resource officers and law enforcement. They’re the first line of defense in keeping students safe,” said Julie Q. Smith, Director of the Office of School Safety. “I’m also glad to see design and construction updates prioritized that will improve the learning environment for students across the state.”
The Office of School Safety was established by Gov. Braun in 2025 to oversee safety training, certifications, facility security guidelines, and emergency response planning for Hoosier schools.
While the full list of recipient school districts and award amounts is public, state officials noted that specific equipment purchases and security plan details for individual schools remain confidential for safety reasons.
