School safety has become a growing priority for districts across the country, but meaningful security improvements often come with high costs. In New Hampshire, the Security Action for Education (SAFE) Grant helps public schools fund targeted security upgrades that protect students, staff, and facilities.
This guide explains what the SAFE Grant is, who qualifies, what it funds, and how schools can prepare to apply for future grant rounds.
The Security Action for Education (SAFE) Grant is a New Hampshire state-funded program established in 2022 to support safety and security improvements in K–12 schools.
The program is administered by the New Hampshire Department of Education (NHED) and funded through the Public School Infrastructure Fund. SAFE is focused specifically on physical security measures that help schools prevent, detect, and respond to emergencies. The grant is released in application rounds, depending on state budget allocations and available funding.
Eligible applicants include:
Nonpublic schools were eligible only during Round Two, which was funded through federal ARPA dollars. Current and recent rounds are limited to public and chartered public schools.
The SAFE Grant supports three clearly defined security categories. Projects must fall entirely within one of these areas.
These projects typically cover entrances, parking areas, and building perimeters.
Access control projects help schools limit unauthorized entry during school hours.
Projects must directly support emergency communication or alerting.
For Round Four alone (2026), the state received 702 applications requesting approximately $24 million all together, far exceeding available funds. Only $8 million was able to be distributed.
When trying to figure out how much to request check out our physical security pricing guide here.
The Public School Infrastructure Commission prioritizes:
Projects with start dates before July 1 are typically funded earlier than those scheduled to begin later.
The SAFE Grant does not operate on a rolling application schedule. Instead, applications open during specific grant rounds announced by the New Hampshire Department of Education.
Future rounds depend on:
Schools should regularly monitor NHED communications and Public School Infrastructure Commission updates to avoid missing future application windows.
Each application may include:
Schools must submit separate applications for different buildings or project types. While application details may vary slightly by round, the overall process remains consistent.
Choose one project category: Surveillance, Access Control, or Emergency Alerting and clearly define the problem your school is addressing.
Your project description must be:
This description is especially important because it must remain exactly the same throughout the grant process.
If your project is awarded:
Any changes can delay reimbursement or require resubmission.
After receiving a SAFE Grant award, schools should move quickly but carefully into implementation. To learn more about what to expect when buying a security system read here. SAFE projects must be completed exactly as approved, so it’s important to select security equipment that clearly aligns with the funded project scope.
Working with a security provider experienced in security solutions for schools is always a smart choice. Education vendors understand SAFE Grant requirements and can help translate the approved project description into the right surveillance, access control, or emergency alerting equipment, ensuring purchases stay compliant and reimbursable.
The right partner can also help schools move confidently from approval to installation, making it easier to use SAFE Grant funds effectively while improving overall school safety.
With technicians and installation professionals located throughout New Hampshire, Usherwood makes it easy for schools to stay on schedule and implement dependable security solutions that fit within approved SAFE Grant timelines.
For SAFE Grant questions, schools can contact:
Chris Armatys-Krzysztof.J.Armatys@doe.nh.gov.
School Safety Grant Coordinator, NH Department of Education
Additional resources are available through NHED, including grant FAQs, application process outlines, and school safety planning tools.
For administrators searching for a security grant for education, the SAFE Grant remains one of New Hampshire’s most important opportunities to fund meaningful school safety improvements. If your school has already been approved and you’re unsure what to do next, our team can help guide you through equipment selection and implementation. Fill out a form evaluation or use our chat feature to connect with a business representative immediately.