California School Security Funding for 2026-27

California schools can pay for security work from several places at once: federal school safety grants, state programs, facilities bond money, and, for private schools, nonprofit security grants. This guide lists the programs with a current official source for the 2026-27 school year, what each one pays for, and the dates to watch. Programs change every cycle, so always confirm details on the linked source before you apply.

Federal programs open to California schools

COPS School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP)

What it funds: physical school security measures and technology, under the STOP School Violence Act of 2018.

FY 2026 terms: up to $73 million available nationally; awards of up to $500,000 over 36 months; a local cost share of at least 25 percent; about $1 million reserved for microgrants of up to $100,000 for school districts, including rural, tribal and low-resourced schools. Awards go to states, units of local government and tribes, so districts often apply with their city or county.

Dates: the FY 2026 round closed in August 2026 (Grants.gov August 4; JustGrants August 11). Plan now for the next cycle.

Source: COPS Office: School Violence Prevention Program; COPS Office grants list

BJA STOP School Violence Program

What it funds: training school staff and students to prevent violence, school threat assessment and intervention teams, and anonymous reporting technology. Target-hardening equipment belongs under SVPP instead.

FY 2026 terms: awards of up to $2 million for states and up to $1 million for other eligible applicants, which include localities, nonprofits and school districts.

Dates: open now. Grants.gov deadline October 30, 2026 (11:59 p.m. ET); JustGrants deadline November 6, 2026 (8:59 p.m. ET).

Source: Bureau of Justice Assistance: FY 2026 STOP School Violence Program

State programs

Learning Communities for School Success Program (LCSSP), Cohort 10

What it funds: programs that reduce truancy and support students at risk of dropping out or who are victims of crime. Funded by Proposition 47 savings and run by the California Department of Education. This is a school-climate and prevention grant, not an equipment grant.

2026-27 terms: $21,061,000 available; up to $50 per enrolled student per year, with a $30,000 minimum and a $2 million maximum per LEA or consortium over the three-year grant; a local match is required. School districts, county offices of education and charter schools are eligible.

Dates: applications closed April 27, 2026, and Cohort 10 results are posted. Watch for the next cohort.

Source: CDE funding profile: LCSSP Cohort 10

Proposition 2 (2024): School Facility Program

What it funds: construction and modernization of TK-12 school facilities through the state School Facility Program. Proposition 2 is the Kindergarten through Grade 12 Schools and Local Community College Public Education Facilities Modernization, Repair, and Safety Bond Act of 2024.

Terms: $8.5 billion for TK-12 facilities, including $4.0 billion for modernization, $3.3 billion for new construction, $600 million for charter school facilities and $600 million for career technical education facilities. Districts must submit a five-year school facilities master plan to take part.

How it helps security: if your district is planning a modernization project, check with the Office of Public School Construction whether security improvements in that project are eligible.

Source: State Allocation Board: Proposition 2 implementation item; Office of Public School Construction

Programs for private schools

California State Nonprofit Security Grant Program (CSNSGP)

What it funds: target hardening and other physical security improvements for 501(c)(3) nonprofits at high risk of violent attacks or hate crimes because of their ideology, beliefs or mission. Eligible private and faith-based schools can apply.

Most recent terms (2025-26): $76 million from the state budget; estimated awards of $250,000 to $500,000; no match required; performance period March 1, 2026 through December 31, 2027.

Dates: the 2025-26 round closed December 12, 2025. Cal OES had not posted a 2026-27 round as of October 14, 2026; watch the Cal OES page below.

Source: California Grants Portal: 2025-26 CSNSGP; Cal OES Infrastructure Protection Grants

Federal Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP), through Cal OES

What it funds: physical and cyber security improvements for 501(c)(3) nonprofits at risk of terrorist or other extremist attacks, including eligible private schools. Cal OES administers the California share, split between designated urban areas and the rest of the state.

Source: Cal OES: FY 2026 NSGP notice of funding opportunity

Make your application stronger

• Tie requests to your Comprehensive School Safety Plan. California requires every school to have one; reviewers look for projects that match an assessed need. See the CDE Comprehensive School Safety Plans page.
• Do the assessment first. SVPP requires recipients to conduct comprehensive school safety assessments for the schools in the project. The K-12 school security self-assessment is a practical starting point.
• Match the program to the cost. Equipment and technology fit SVPP; training, threat assessment and reporting fit STOP; climate and attendance work fits LCSSP.
• Partner with local law enforcement. Because SVPP awards go to local governments, a city or county partner is often the applicant.
• Plan the match. Know where your cost share will come from before you apply.

A 2026-27 funding calendar

For a national view of grants, see school safety funding.

Where VOLT fits

Many of these programs can pay for software that works with cameras a school already owns. Here is what VOLT adds:

VOLT is built to notice moments: a fall, a possible fight, someone where they shouldn't be. VOLT helps get the right people to the right place at the right time.

VOLT detects handguns, long guns, and knives that are visible to the camera.

VOLT is built to run on the cameras you already have.

Alerts can be reviewed by a person before your team is notified.