Arizona’s School Safety Program (SSP) is entering a new three year grant cycle beginning February 1, 2026, and this year brings an important shift for districts.
Districts can apply directly through the Arizona Department of Education’s SSP grant portal.
Alongside traditional funding for counselors, social workers, and school resource officers, districts can now use SSP funds for safety technology.
For IT and district leaders, this opens the door to modernizing how student safety, wellness, and oversight are managed across schools. Instead of relying solely on staffing or disconnected tools, districts can now invest in technology designed to prevent issues earlier, respond faster, and provide clearer visibility across systems.
Let’s walk through what changed, what’s now eligible, and how districts are using SSP funding to strengthen school safety.
What changed in Arizona’s School Safety Program
Recent legislative updates expanded SSP funding beyond personnel to include:
- Safety technology
- Infrastructure and training
- Digital tools that support student protection and wellness
Previously, much of the funding was limited to staffing roles. Many districts struggled to fill open positions, leaving significant funds unused. The updated program gives districts flexibility to invest in tools that support online safety, student wellness, and campus operations alongside their personnel strategy.
SSP applications now require districts to name the specific technology they plan to use and describe how it addresses safety needs, making proactive planning especially important.
Why districts are moving toward connected safety platforms
School safety today spans multiple systems, from web activity and AI tools to wellness alerts and campus movement. When these systems operate in silos, teams spend more time piecing together information than acting on it.
Connected platforms like Securly’s SafetyOS bring these areas together into one ecosystem, helping districts:
- See safety signals in context
- Respond faster to concerns
- Reduce manual investigations
- Maintain consistent policies across schools
Rather than juggling point solutions, districts gain one connected view of student safety.
How SSP funding supports Securly’s SafetyOS
Many districts are using SSP funding to invest in platforms that cover multiple safety needs in one system.
With SafetyOS, districts can support:
- Online protection through web and AI filtering
- Student wellness monitoring for early intervention
- AI Transparency for responsible oversight of AI usage
- Campus operations including classroom activity and visitor management
This unified approach aligns directly with SSP’s goal of comprehensive school safety.
Why AI transparency is becoming a core safety need
AI tools are quickly becoming part of everyday learning. Blocking AI entirely can create equity gaps, while allowing it without oversight introduces risk.
Securly’s AI Transparency capabilities, built into SafetyOS, provide:
- Visibility into AI activity across all tools
- Insight into usage trends and potential concerns
- Support for responsible AI adoption
For many districts, AI oversight is now a critical part of modern safety strategy.
What districts often highlight in SSP technology applications
When districts include safety technology in SSP proposals, they commonly focus on:
- Prevention and early intervention
- Faster response times with better context
- Reduced manual workload for IT and safety teams
- Alignment with wellness and campus safety goals
Connected platforms make it easier to demonstrate impact across multiple areas within a single proposal.
Preparing for the 2026 SSP funding cycle
With the application window opening February 1, districts across Arizona are reviewing safety gaps, evaluating technology options, and mapping solutions to SSP objectives.
Starting early helps ensure proposals reflect the full scope of what’s now eligible and positions districts to make the most of this funding cycle.
Want help planning your SSP technology approach?
Our team regularly works with districts to align safety technology with SSP goals, provide implementation details, and support clear application language.
If you’d like to talk through how Securly’s SafetyOS and AI Transparency capabilities could fit into your SSP plan, we’re happy to help.
Frequently asked questions about Arizona SSP funding and safety technology
Can Arizona SSP funds be used for school safety technology?
Yes. Recent updates to the School Safety Program expanded eligible uses beyond personnel to include safety technology, infrastructure, and training. Districts can now include specific technology solutions in their SSP applications as long as they address defined safety needs.
Do districts need to name the technology they plan to use in their SSP application?
Yes. SSP applications require districts to identify the specific technology they intend to purchase and explain how it supports student safety and wellness goals. This is why many districts are evaluating solutions early in the planning process.
What types of safety technology are typically funded through SSP?
Districts commonly include technology related to online safety, student wellness monitoring, campus oversight, and connected safety platforms that bring multiple systems together. Solutions that support prevention, early intervention, and improved response times align well with SSP objectives.
Can SSP funding be used for AI monitoring and oversight in schools?
Yes. AI oversight and transparency tools that support student safety, responsible AI use, and district visibility can be included as part of SSP-funded safety technology. As AI becomes more common in classrooms, many districts are prioritizing visibility across AI tools.
How does Securly’s SafetyOS fit into SSP funding?
Securly’s SafetyOS is a connected safety platform that supports online protection, student wellness monitoring, AI Transparency, and campus operations in one system. Because SSP funding now covers safety technology, many districts include platforms like SafetyOS as part of a comprehensive safety strategy.
When does the 2026 SSP grant window open?
The next SSP funding cycle opens February 1, 2026. Districts apply directly through Arizona’s grant portal and must outline how requested funds will support school safety initiatives.
