What This Means for You
- Nonpublic schools and certain local agencies can apply for up to $75,000 to improve safety and mental health services.
- Applications are due by Monday, March 30, 2026, through the state’s online Egrants system.
- Funding can be used for security personnel, mental health programs, training, and facility upgrades.
HARRISBURG, PA — Nonpublic schools and certain local agencies across Pennsylvania can now compete for $20.7 million in state grants aimed at strengthening school safety and expanding student mental health support.
The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) announced the availability of the Targeted School Safety Grants for Nonpublic Schools Program earlier this week. The funding is part of the fiscal year 2025-26 state budget signed by Governor Josh Shapiro.
The grants are designed to address school violence prevention, improve access to mental health services, and cover security-related expenses, including training and compensation for school security personnel.
“Promoting safer schools and communities is a core part of PCCD’s mission,” said Kirsten Kenyon, executive director of PCCD, in a statement encouraging eligible organizations to apply.
Who Is Eligible
Eligible applicants include approved private schools, diocesan schools, licensed private academic schools, nonpublic or non-licensed schools, and private residential rehabilitation institutions.
Municipalities, law enforcement agencies, and approved third-party security vendors may also apply to provide school security personnel services for public school entities and nonpublic schools.
How the Money Can Be Used
Applicants may request up to $75,000 over a two-year period.
Under Section 1306-B(j) of the Pennsylvania Public School Code — a section of state law that outlines allowable school safety spending — funds may be used for:
- Training and compensation for school police officers, school resource officers, or security guards who meet state qualification requirements.
- Safety and security assessments.
- Mental health services, including counseling, trauma-informed programs (approaches that recognize and respond to the effects of trauma), and suicide prevention efforts.
- Professional development related to school safety and behavioral health.
- Physical security improvements, such as equipment and technology upgrades.
- Support for behavioral threat assessment teams, which identify and evaluate potential safety risks.
The funding may also help schools meet PCCD’s baseline safety criteria or address issues identified in recent security assessments.
Broader State Investment
The $20.7 million allocation is part of a broader school safety initiative. The 2025-26 state budget includes more than $120 million for school safety and mental health programs statewide. In December 2025, PCCD made $100 million available to public school entities through separate School Safety and Mental Health Grants.
Since 2023, the commission has awarded more than $37 million through 370 Targeted School Safety grants.
Governor Shapiro’s most recent budget proposal continues funding at $111 million for school safety and mental health supports, including $11 million to sustain the Targeted School Safety grant program in the next fiscal year.
Application Deadline and Next Steps
Applications must be submitted through PCCD’s Egrants System at https://www.pa.gov/agencies/pccd/ by Monday, March 30, 2026.
Awards are expected to be approved by PCCD’s School Safety and Security Committee in June 2026.
Additional resources, including a pre-recorded informational webinar, will be posted on PCCD’s Active Funding Announcements webpage at https://www.pa.gov/agencies/pccd/resources/active-funding-announcements. Questions about the program may be directed to RA-CD-TARGETEDSS@pa.gov.
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