Carryover dollars will cover upcoming fiscal year
Contributed Article
PHOENIX – State schools chief Tom Horne is directing the use of approximately $53 million in School Safety Program carryover funds from previous years to ensure that all first-position requests for armed school officers and mental health professionals will be funded for FY27.
A school makes a first-position request based on its preference for an officer or a mental health professional.
With the Superintendent’s action, 560 first-position requests for officers will be filled for the upcoming school year. This represents significant growth in the program since it began with 113 funded officers.
Horne said, “School safety is of the utmost priority, and I am committed to providing armed officers to every school that makes a request. Well-trained, armed officers are the first line of defense if a maniac attempts to get on campus to harm people. We are answering all first-position requests for assistance in helping to keep their campuses safe for the upcoming school year. Using carry forward dollars, we will be able to grant every first position request in FY27.”
Horne added, “This is one-time additional money, which is an important distinction, because all of the positions approved by the State Board on May 18th will receive funding for the full three years, in line with the grant cycle. Another legislative appropriation will be needed next year to continue funding for the added positions requested and funded this year.”
Funding is also being provided to support 523 mental health professionals. The safety legislation provides funding for both categories, depending on the district or charter school’s choice.
