What's New
On May 27, 2026, the Administration for Children and Families at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, on behalf of the U.S. Department of Education, announced the availability of $93,000,000 to fund the School Safety Enhancement (SSE) program. SSE will support States in implementing evidence-based school safety measures, including improving school infrastructure security, strengthening emergency response planning and coordination, and enhancing training and preparedness exercises for school personnel and school resource officers.
Call for Peer Reviewers
The Office of Safe and Supportive Schools seeks individuals from various educational backgrounds, professions, and regions to serve as peer reviewers to assess fiscal year 2026 SSE grant program applications. The peer review process is designed to identify and fund the highest quality applications and to create opportunities for the general public to participate in government and gain insight into the federal funding process.
For more information, please review the Call for Peer Reviewers.
Program Description
The School Safety Enhancement (SSE) program provides competitive grants to State educational agencies to develop, implement, and strengthen statewide school safety systems and the physical security of schools.
Funding
The FY 2026 total grant award funding is estimated to be $93,000,000.
Legislation
Section 4631(a)(1)(B) of the ESEA (20 U.S.C. 7281)
Regulations
- The Education Department General Administrative Regulations in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 79, 81, 82, 84, 86, 97, 98, and 99
- Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 79 apply to all applicants except federally recognized Indian Tribes.
- The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Guidelines to Agencies on Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement) in 2 CFR part 180, as adopted and amended as regulations of ED in 2 CFR part 3485
- The Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards in 2 CFR part 200, as adopted and amended as regulations of ED in 2 CFR part 3474
- 2025 Secretary’s Supplemental Priorities
Applicant Information
The FY 2026 School Safety Enhancement (SSE) Program Application Notice and Instructions were published in Grants.gov on May 27, 2026. The deadline for submission of a grant application under this competition is 11:59:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on July 28, 2026.
- Please note this is an electronic copy of the SSE Application Package for you to download and use as a guide only.
- Applications must be submitted electronically through the Grants.gov system.
Associated Federal Register Notice
The competition announcement soliciting applications for the FY 2026 SSE grant program was published in the Federal Register by the U.S. Department of Education on June 6, 2026.
Pre-Application Presentation
The U.S. Department of Education recorded a pre-application technical assistance webinar on May 27, 2026. The recording, slides and, transcript of the session are available below.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions: FY 2026 School Safety Enhancement Program Competition (84.184A): Find answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and review information and guidance to applicants for the FY 2026 SSE grant program competition.
Eligibility
Consistent with 20 U.S.C. 7281(a)(1)(B) and the Secretary's Notice of Final Priorities and Definitions-Secretary's Supplemental Priorities and Definitions on Evidence-Based Literacy, Education Choice, and Returning Education to the States, published in the Federal Register on September 9, 2025 (90 FR 43514) (2025 Secretary’s Supplemental Priorities) eligible applicants are:
- State educational agencies (SEAs), as defined in 20 U.S.C. 7801(49).
Note: Only one application per State is permitted.
This is the first year this grant has been competed and there are no previous awards. We will post future awards here once announced.
What's New
On May 27, 2026, the Administration for Children and Families at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, on behalf of the U.S. Department of Education, announced the availability of $93,000,000 to fund the School Safety Enhancement (SSE) program. SSE will support States in implementing evidence-based school safety measures, including improving school infrastructure security, strengthening emergency response planning and coordination, and enhancing training and preparedness exercises for school personnel and school resource officers.
Call for Peer Reviewers
The Office of Safe and Supportive Schools seeks individuals from various educational backgrounds, professions, and regions to serve as peer reviewers to assess fiscal year 2026 SSE grant program applications. The peer review process is designed to identify and fund the highest quality applications and to create opportunities for the general public to participate in government and gain insight into the federal funding process.
For more information, please review the Call for Peer Reviewers.
Program Description
The School Safety Enhancement (SSE) program provides competitive grants to State educational agencies to develop, implement, and strengthen statewide school safety systems and the physical security of schools.
Funding
The FY 2026 total grant award funding is estimated to be $93,000,000.
Legislation
Section 4631(a)(1)(B) of the ESEA (20 U.S.C. 7281)
Regulations
- The Education Department General Administrative Regulations in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 79, 81, 82, 84, 86, 97, 98, and 99
- Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 79 apply to all applicants except federally recognized Indian Tribes.
- The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Guidelines to Agencies on Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement) in 2 CFR part 180, as adopted and amended as regulations of ED in 2 CFR part 3485
- The Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards in 2 CFR part 200, as adopted and amended as regulations of ED in 2 CFR part 3474
- 2025 Secretary’s Supplemental Priorities
Applicant Information
The FY 2026 School Safety Enhancement (SSE) Program Application Notice and Instructions were published in Grants.gov on May 27, 2026. The deadline for submission of a grant application under this competition is 11:59:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on July 28, 2026.
- Please note this is an electronic copy of the SSE Application Package for you to download and use as a guide only.
- Applications must be submitted electronically through the Grants.gov system.
Associated Federal Register Notice
The competition announcement soliciting applications for the FY 2026 SSE grant program was published in the Federal Register by the U.S. Department of Education on June 6, 2026.
Pre-Application Presentation
The U.S. Department of Education recorded a pre-application technical assistance webinar on May 27, 2026. The recording, slides and, transcript of the session are available below.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions: FY 2026 School Safety Enhancement Program Competition (84.184A): Find answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and review information and guidance to applicants for the FY 2026 SSE grant program competition.
Eligibility
Consistent with 20 U.S.C. 7281(a)(1)(B) and the Secretary's Notice of Final Priorities and Definitions-Secretary's Supplemental Priorities and Definitions on Evidence-Based Literacy, Education Choice, and Returning Education to the States, published in the Federal Register on September 9, 2025 (90 FR 43514) (2025 Secretary’s Supplemental Priorities) eligible applicants are:
- State educational agencies (SEAs), as defined in 20 U.S.C. 7801(49).
Note: Only one application per State is permitted.
This is the first year this grant has been competed and there are no previous awards. We will post future awards here once announced.