Indiana’s commitment to keeping students safe is continuing with a major new round of state funding. The Indiana Secured School Safety Board (SSSB) has unanimously approved the distribution of more than $27.1 million in grants to 494 schools and districts across the state.
Since its creation in 2013, the Secured School Safety Grant (SSSG) program has directed more than $214 million toward school security efforts and approved nearly 4,600 individual grant requests.
Governor Mike Braun praised the investment, saying,
“School safety is a top priority for my administration. Every student deserves a good education, and that starts with feeling safe and secure. That’s why Indiana continues to make unprecedented investments through the Secured School Safety Grant Program.”
Grant Priorities and Funding Levels
This year, the demand for school safety funding outpaced available resources. First-time applicants were fully funded for their top priority safety requests. Charter school groups were capped at $100,000 for all schools within the group. Schools that regularly apply to the program will receive 92% funding for their top-priority items. Applicants rank their requests to help the Board focus resources on the most urgent needs.
A Decade of Growth
Last year, 499 schools shared $24 million in funding — $17 million of which went toward hiring and supporting school resource officers. Officials say the program has become one of Indiana’s most significant investments in education-related safety.
“As a former school resource officer, I know first-hand the importance of the Secured School Safety Grant program,” said one Board member, noting that the funding helps schools add officers, improve building security, and enhance emergency preparedness