K-12 school funding is always a hot topic across the U.S. education sector, with most schools historically relying on a patchwork of sources for financial support. These range from state and local funding to federal grants and other programs, all of which come with their own application deadlines and eligibility requirements.
For a significant number of school administrators, the pressure to provide students, teachers and the community with what they need for success through funding is often cited as their top concern. With federal funding for K-12 schools in FY25 and beyond continuing to generate a high level of uncertainty at state and local level, it’s essential for schools and decision-makers to understand potential funding streams from grants.
With that in mind (and as part of our Grant Finder blog series), here’s a look at some of the funding sources available for K-12 schools in Illinois.
In Illinois, K-12 schools spend an average of $21,829 per pupil, for a total of $40.4 billion annually. [2]
The majority of K-12 school funding comes from state and local levels. According to the most recent education data available, Illinois averages $2,198 per student in federal funding for public post-secondary education but receives less than $5 billion in federal funding for its K-12 student population.
In terms of a percentage of taxpayer income, Illinois schools are more reliant on state and local funding, which makes up the balance required to operate. In addition, the state ranks 8th in K-12 school spending and 5th in funding.
Federal funding refers to financial support provided by the government to assist schools in various areas, including academic programs, infrastructure, technology, and student services. There is high variance in the amount of federal funding a K-12 school receives. Some districts receive zero federal dollars, while some can pay for as much as 75% of their expenses using federal funding. At a granular level, federal funding depends on factors like poverty level, student demographics, population density, and availability of state and local funding
Non-federal funding, by contrast, comes from state or local tax revenue streams such as property taxes, sales, income, or other taxes. Funds are then distributed to local districts using various formulas to determine eligibility criteria (student demographics, school performance, specific needs).
These funds are designed to ensure that all students have access to quality education and resources. In the Prairie State, for example, annual funding for K-12 education totals $42.9 billion or $23,156 per pupil. Tuition, according to EDI’s data, accounts for 16.1% of all funding.
Funding can be uncertain, and many administrators say that they don't have the resources available to accomplish everything they want to do. This becomes even more of a challenge when funding for school safety programs and related initiatives is factored into any ongoing financial optimization or budgeting strategy.
Grants are a funding source that can drive transformative impact for administrators, educators, and students. At the same time, grants can be difficult to identify and time-consuming to complete.
Here is a curated list of grants that Illinois K-12 schools can use to fund district needs.
DOJ STOP Grant
COPS SVPP Grant
Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP)
State HSGP
Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP)
Stronger Connections Grant Program
At the time of writing, it should be noted that application deadlines for a number of federal grants that specifically fund school safety programs can vary and the window could be closed for FY25.
If that is the case, then school administrators should ensure that they sign up for programs that are of interest at SchoolSafety.gov to ensure that they receive updates on new school safety-related grant opportunities when the window opens again.
Non-Federal or Other State Resources
If you are looking to apply for grants from non-federal/state resources or foundations, the landscape can seem overwhelming. Illinois (as is the case for other states in this series) has a number of online grant-specific resources that can be accessed by school administrators to nail down financial assistance based on their specific needs.
The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), for example, offers direct grant applications through state funds received by the agency, and publicizes these opportunities when they become available. According to its website, ISBE can also offer a direct link to private or corporation foundations for funding.
In addition, there are various grant and funding search engines (GrantWatch, TheGrantPortal, to name two) that can guide the school towards funding streams that will consider applications on a case-by-case basis. The caveat is that these resources often require the applicant to become a paid subscriber to access the features and keyword search functionality.
If this paid search option is not appealing, there are also organizations that are dedicated to school safety programs or community initiatives, and who don’t live behind gated content. These additional resources include, but are not limited to:
After identifying a potential funding source, preparing a strong application is important. Kokomo24/7® can work with your school district to assist and strengthen your application.
As a leader in school safety, our team is deeply experienced at mapping funding options to the solutions you need. We are happy to provide advice and support whenever you need it from our experts.
Request time with Kokomo24/7® to assist and strengthen your grant application!
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