The Arizona School Safety Program (SSP) was created to foster safe and effective educational settings by funding the placement of school resource officers (SROs), juvenile probation officers (JPOs), school safety officers (SSOs), counselors, and social workers at school sites.
Across 14 Arizona counties, the School Safety Program is currently bolstering campus security and student well-being at more than 1,077 schools. The 2025/2026 funding cycle provides these campuses with nearly 400 counselors, over 140 social workers, and approximately 500 safety and law enforcement officers.
If a funded position remains vacant, schools can request to reallocate those funds toward safety technology, training, or infrastructure upgrades. To fill these roles, schools may hire Arizona peace officers who retired in good standing. Any proposal for an SRO, JPO, or SSO must also include a specific training plan covering student privacy (FERPA), civil rights, and adolescent mental health.
Additionally, schools must:
Applications are due April 15, 2026. A similar deadline is anticipated trienially.
Approximately $128 million is available for a three-year cycle starting in SY2026-2027 and through SY2029-2030. Award amounts vary. Project period is from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2029. No cost sharing or matching is required.