August 13, 2026 − Senator Nick Miller (D–Lehigh/Northampton) announced today that the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency’s (PCCD) School Safety and Security Committee has approved the FY 2026-27 funding framework for the School Safety and Mental Health Grant Program, providing schools across Pennsylvania with resources to strengthen security, behavioral health services and school environment.
Senator Miller serves as Co-Chair of PCCD’s School Safety and Security Committee since January 2025, where he works to advance policies and investments that protect students, educators and school communities across Pennsylvania.
“Every student deserves to learn in a school where they feel safe, supported, and prepared to succeed,” said Senator Nick Miller. “As co-chair of PCCD’s School Safety and Security Committee, I will continue working to make sure our schools have the resources they need from mental health support to critical safety improvements to protect our students and strengthen our communities.”
$138,779,000 Available for School Safety and Mental Health
Under the approved framework, $138,779,000 will be available to 775 eligible school entities statewide, including:
- School districts
- Charter schools
- Career and technical centers
- Intermediate units
- Cyber charter schools
- Regional charter schools
Funding may be used for physical security enhancements, behavioral health supports, school climate initiatives, or a combination of these priorities.
Eligible school entities must first use grant funding to meet the Level 1 Baseline Criteria for physical security or behavioral health and school climate established by the School Safety and Security Committee. The committee updated and approved these baseline criteria in June 2026.
The funding includes $100 million in FY 2026-27 state appropriations, along with $38,779,000 in unexpended, uncommitted and unencumbered funds from prior years. The School Safety and Mental Health Grant funding will be distributed to eligible public-school entities through a noncompetitive formula.
$2.5 Million for CPR/AED Training at Nonpublic Schools
The committee also approved a funding framework for $2.5 million in CPR/AED training grants for eligible nonpublic schools.
Eligible expenses may include:
- In-person or online CPR/AED training provided by approved providers
- Training materials, including books, manuals, practice mannequins and practice AED units
- Personnel costs for certified staff who provide CPR/AED training to other employees at their school
- Eligible applicants may apply for up to $5,000 per grant project, with projects lasting up to 24 months.
Application Information
Applications for the School Safety and Mental Health Grant Program will open at a later date. The application period is expected to close October 16, 2026.
For more information about the School Safety and Security Committee and its initiatives, visit the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency website at www.pccd.pa.gov.
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