Virginia has awarded $12 million in School Security Equipment Grants to 433 schools spanning 99 divisions, marking the latest round of funding under the state’s school safety program. The Virginia Department of Education announced on October 9 that this allocation raises total investment in security infrastructure to $60 million since fiscal year 2022, with 1,132 public schools benefiting across the Commonwealth.
Funding was distributed through a competitive grant process administered by the Virginia Department of Education and the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services. Each division could receive up to $250,000. Applications were evaluated according to criteria that included:
- campuses with elevated incident rates based on recent data
- security audit findings identifying equipment gaps
- limited local budgets for facility improvements
- overall security assessments indicating needs
Awarded dollars may fund a variety of security solutions designed to strengthen daily operations and enhance emergency response protocols. Approved equipment categories include:
- internal voice and video systems for rapid alerts
- card readers and visitor badges for controlled access
- indoor and outdoor cameras with two-way radios
- bus-mounted and hallway cameras to monitor student movement
“the funding addresses parental concerns about student safety while enabling educators to maintain their focus on instruction,” said Superintendent of Public Instruction Emily Anne Gullickson. She noted that divisions will use awards to install secure entry vestibules that restrict lobby access, upgrade surveillance monitoring rooms with digital recording capabilities and deploy emergency notification tools that broadcast alerts across campuses.
The 2025–2026 grant cycle covers divisions in every region, from rural counties to large urban centers. Recipients were selected based on their ranked scores in the competitive review exercise, ensuring that schools with the most pressing security shortfalls received priority support.
Grant awards range from just under $6,000 up to the statewide cap of $250,000 per division. Divisions receiving the largest awards include several of Virginia’s most populous districts and those with documented facility needs, reflecting a balanced strategy to support security upgrades across the Commonwealth.
