Competitive Grant Process Prioritises Schools with Highest Offense Rates and Equipment Deficiencies
Virginia has announced a USD 12 million allocation in School Security Equipment Grants, marking the state’s latest investment in educational safety infrastructure across the commonwealth.
The funding will be distributed among 433 schools across 99 school divisions, bringing the total state investment in school security infrastructure to $60 million since fiscal year 2022. This cumulative effort has seen enhanced security funding provided to 1,132 public schools over the period.
The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) made the announcement on October 9, detailing that school divisions received the grants through a competitive application process, with individual awards capped at USD 250,000 per division.
Applications were jointly evaluated by the VDOE and the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) against a specific set of criteria designed to prioritise schools demonstrating the greatest security needs.
Key factors considered during the rigorous evaluation included:
Schools with higher offense rates.
Identified equipment gaps revealed during official security audits.
Limited local resources available for essential security upgrades.
The overall assessment of equipment necessities.
The grant amounts ranged from just under USD 6,000 up to the USD 250,000 maximum.
The funding is designated for various security technologies aimed at enhancing campus safety and improving emergency response capabilities. Approved equipment categories span both physical access control and internal communication systems:
Voice and video internal communication systems.
Mass notification systems.
Security card access and visitor ID badging systems.
Surveillance cameras and two-way radios.
Secure vestibules (or secure entrances).
Interior and bus-mounted cameras.
Superintendent of Public Instruction, Emily Anne Gullickson, stated that the funding is crucial for addressing parental concerns about student safety while enabling educators to maintain their focus on instruction.
The grants, she explained, specifically target infrastructure improvements such as secure entrances, updated surveillance systems, and modern safety equipment.
The 2025-2026 grant cycle demonstrates a broad geographic reach, covering schools across 99 school divisions. Recipients were selected based on ranked application scores, reinforcing the commitment to continued, data-driven investment in educational security infrastructure across Virginia.
