Grant Finder: Ohio K-12 Schools

FY26 K-12 Funding: Complexity Is The New Normal

The start of a new year is when organizations reset priorities and refine long-range plans. For K-12 school districts, that means addressing a persistent challenge: securing reliable funding in an environment where uncertainty is now standard operating procedure.

K-12 funding remains a mosaic of federal, state, and local dollars. Eligibility rules, compliance obligations, and application timelines are familiar constraints but the question districts are asking in 2026 is shifting from where the money is to when it will arrive and under what terms.

Federal Uncertainty: A Moving Target

Recent policy actions have added complexity to the federal funding ecosystem. In a recent K-12 Dive op-ed, EdTrust CEO Denise Forte noted that state leaders are confronting confusion on multiple fronts, from shifting federal priorities to inconsistent reporting structures.

A notable example: Florida officials could not determine where 30,000 students were enrolled or how $270 million in voucher funds were being used. Combined with ongoing Department of Education restructuring proposals, the result is what many now describe as a “gray zone” for federal support.

Data Point:
• $6.2B in federal K-12 funding for FY25 was temporarily withheld in July 2024
• Represents ~14.4% of prior-year DOE budget
• Impact: delayed staffing and planning decisions across districts

Spending is Rising But So Are Expectations

Although federal actions are driving uncertainty, total spending continues to climb.

Long-Term Trend:
• +35.8% increase in public K-12 funding (2002-2023)
• $946.5B total funding in 2023
• Per-pupil spending rose from $14,969 → $20,322

The headline takeaway: growth in funding is real, but so are obligations—operational, instructional, and safety-related.

Grant Finder State Spotlight: Ohio

Ohio K-12 schools spend an average of $16,687 per pupil, totaling approximately $28.05 billion annually.

• Federal funding: $3.98 billion ($2,366 per pupil)
• State funding: $9.74 billion ($5,796 per pupil)
• Local funding: $14.8 billion ($8,798 per pupil)

As illustrated in the chart above, the majority of K-12 funding in Ohio comes from state and local sources, rather than federal dollars.

Based on the most recent data available, total K-12 funding statewide equals approximately $28.5 billion per year, or $16,960 per pupil. The gap between funding and actual spending is roughly $458.7 million, or $273 per student.

From a taxpayer perspective, Ohio schools rely significantly more on state and local contributions (3.26% of taxpayer income) compared to federal sources (0.55%). Nationally, Ohio ranks 23rd in both K-12 funding and spending.

How Funding Works in Ohio

Ohio’s FY22 funding formula introduced three notable shifts:

1. Funds the student where they are educated
2. Uses input-based cost assumptions (ratios, staffing, program costs)
3. Defines funding as a state-district partnership

Primary and secondary education is the largest component of the state’s General Revenue Fund, supplemented by Lottery and sports gaming revenue.

Where School Safety Fits In

ESSER expiration has heightened pressure on districts to sustain digital and safety initiatives without federal relief dollars.

SETDA 2025 Findings:
• Funding = biggest unmet need
• Only 6% of districts will sustain ESSER-backed initiatives (down from 27%)
• Top tech priorities for next school year:

• Artificial Intelligence (17%)
• Cybersecurity (16%)
• Broadband (16%)

School safety now intersects with operational, instructional, and workforce planning priorities—making grants an increasingly strategic tool.

Grant Finder: Federal Opportunities

Below is a curated list of federal programs likely to be relevant for Ohio districts entering FY26. Application windows vary and some FY26 deadlines are not yet announced.

DOJ STOP Grant

• Due Date: Currently closed, will reopen in 2026
• Eligibility: Public, private, and charter K-12 schools
• Grant Website: https://bja.ojp.gov/funding/opportunities/o-bja-2025-172466
• Description: Provides funding to prevent and reduce school violence by implementing training, developing school threat assessment teams and/or intervention teams to identify violence risks, introducing technologies like anonymous reporting tools, or applying other school safety strategies that assist in preventing violence. The goal is to equip K–12 students, teachers, and staff with tools to recognize, respond to, and prevent acts of violence.

COPS SVPP Grant

• Due Date: Currently closed, will open again in 2026
• Eligibility: School districts (including public charter schools and school districts with a single school), school boards, law enforcement
• Grant Website: School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP) | COPS OFFICE
• Description: Provides up to 75% in funding for a variety of school safety measures in and around K-12 schools and grounds, including:
  • Coordination with law enforcement
  • Training for local law enforcement officers to prevent student violence against others and self
  • Metal detectors, locks, lighting, and other deterrent measures
  • Technology for expedited notification of local law enforcement during an emergency, or any other measures that the COPS Office determines may provide a significant improvement in security

Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP)

• Due Date: Application window is currently closed
• Eligibility: State, local, tribal, and territorial governments, as well as nonprofits (subrecipients)
• Grant Website: https://www.fema.gov/grants/preparedness/homeland-security
• Description: Allowable expenses include materials to conduct planning, engagement, and volunteer management activities; interoperable communications equipment; measures to increase physical security; training conferences; and more.

State HSGP

• Due Date: Contact state administration agency for application dates
• Eligibility: Local law enforcement, as well as nonprofits (subrecipients)
• Grant Website: State Administrative Agency (SAA) Contacts | FEMA.gov
• Description: Administered by FEMA, the SHSP is part of the broader Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP). It provides funding to state, local, tribal, and territorial governments to enhance their ability to prevent, protect against, respond to, and recover from terrorist attacks and other emergencies. You must apply through your State Administrative Agency (SAA) and cannot apply directly to FEMA. Not all states permit schools to apply, so check with your SAA for more details. Funds are allocated based on risk assessments and the effectiveness of proposed initiatives.
  • Key focus areas: Planning, Equipment Acquisition, Training and Exercises

Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP)

• Due Date: Contact the Ohio Office of the Governor, Homeland Security Grants Division
• Eligibility: Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations (subrecipients)
• Grant Website: https://www.fema.gov/grants/preparedness/nonprofit-security
• Description: Allowable expenses include identification, assessment, and reporting of threats of violence; improving cybersecurity of access control, identity verification systems, and security technologies; security training for employees; and more.

Stronger Connections Grant Program

• Due Date: Not Applicable
• Eligibility: State Educational Agencies
• Grant Website: Stronger Connections Grant (SCG) | U.S. Department of Education
• Description: A core component of the 2022 Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, the SCGP provides funding for local communities and leaders to improve schools’ climate and student achievement. The program awards funds to local education authorities that integrate evidence-based approaches to safe, supportive, and healthy schools. These can include security measures, wellness initiatives, safety planning and associated school safety training.

At the time of writing, it should be noted that FY26 application deadlines for a number of federal grants that specifically fund school safety programs can either vary or have not been announced.

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 for FY26.

State & Non-Federal Funding Pathways

Ohio spending is projected to increase in FY26–FY27, with biennium estimates at:

• FY26: $13.75B
• FY27: $14.09B

School safety-focused grants include:

• Ohio BWC School Safety & Security Grant (Deadline: June 30, 2026)
• FY26 State of Ohio Security Grant (Reopens FY27)
• Ohio Attorney General FY26 School Safety Grant (Deadline: May 29, 2026)

Ohio’s Grants Partnership program also provides fiscal guidance, audits, and KPI review across state-supported initiatives.

Foundation & Private Sector Opportunities

Districts may also access safety-aligned funds through mission-driven organizations, including:

• The Sandy Hook Promise Foundation
  • Provides grants for school safety programs and initiatives to prevent violence.
• The U.S. Conference of Mayors
  • Occasionally offers grants or funding opportunities related to municipal and community safety.
• National School Safety Center
  • Offers resources and information on funding opportunities and grant applications for school safety.

Subscription search engines (GrantWatch, GrantPortal) offer additional visibility, though often behind paywalls.

Applying Strategically

Grants are competitive and time-bounded. The strongest applications connect:

• Mission → Solution → Measurable Benefit → Implementation Readiness

Kokomo24/7® supports districts in mapping funding opportunities to student safety and operational goals. Our team assists with identification, strategy alignment, and application support.

The Outlook for FY26

The FY26 landscape is not defined by lack of funds—it is defined by complexity. Districts willing to diversify funding streams, anticipate federal shifts, and accelerate grant strategies will be better positioned to support safety, innovation, and student outcomes in the year ahead.

About Kokomo24/7®

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