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.
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
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.
Ohio K-12 schools spend an average of $16,687 per pupil, totaling approximately $28.05 billion annually.
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.
Ohio’s FY22 funding formula introduced three notable shifts:
Primary and secondary education is the largest component of the state’s General Revenue Fund, supplemented by Lottery and sports gaming revenue.
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:
School safety now intersects with operational, instructional, and workforce planning priorities—making grants an increasingly strategic tool.
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
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 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.
Ohio spending is projected to increase in FY26–FY27, with biennium estimates at:
School safety-focused grants include:
Ohio’s Grants Partnership program also provides fiscal guidance, audits, and KPI review across state-supported initiatives.
Districts may also access safety-aligned funds through mission-driven organizations, including:
Subscription search engines (GrantWatch, GrantPortal) offer additional visibility, though often behind paywalls.
Grants are competitive and time-bounded. The strongest applications connect:
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 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.
Kokomo Solutions, Inc. (Kokomo24/7®) is an enterprise B2B software company founded and based in Chicago, IL featuring a flexible software platform with proven solutions around health, safety, and operational use cases serving over 100 enterprise clients, including many education institutions, corporations, and municipalities.
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