The Arizona Department of Education is seeking $180 million in state funding to continue and expand its School Safety Program. Current funding for the program, which includes over $128 million from state sources and an additional $20 million in federal funds, is set to expire in 2026. The proposed budget request aims to maintain existing support levels and provide an extra $32 million to increase the number of officers and enhance training.
Superintendent Tom Horne explained the reasoning behind the request: “Over the past several weeks, our nation has witnessed terrible school tragedies. This problem is not going away, and we need to address it aggressively. Therefore, I am now making a budget request of the legislature to appropriate at least $180 million to make sure we have no gap in providing funding for armed officers on campuses. This request adds dollars to hire and train officers for more schools statewide to protect students, educators, and classified staff.”
Horne also pointed to a recent incident as evidence of the program’s effectiveness: “The value of having armed officers on campuses is beyond dispute. One of the best examples occurred earlier this year when a heroic Tucson police officer arrested an armed intruder on a school campus during class hours. This criminal was armed with a gun and a knife and told the officer he was there to kill children and make them famous. The officer was on that campus because of funding through the department’s School Safety Program. In fact, he had been hired less than a month earlier using supplemental dollars my department made available. This program works and deserves more funding so it can be expanded. Every parent should want an officer on their child’s campus.”
Maricopa County Schools Superintendent Shelli Boggs expressed continued support for such initiatives: “I will continue to advocate for school safety programs. This is about ensuring that every student, in every school, in every neighborhood, has the peace of mind that comes from knowing they are safe.”
Maricopa County Sheriff Jerry Sheridan also voiced his backing: “As Sheriff of Maricopa County, I strongly support Superintendent Horne’s efforts to fully fund our school safety program to ensure all schools have these resources to protect our kids. There is no greater responsibility for society than to do everything possible to keep children safe, especially in a place of learning and growing. To that end, we currently have dozens of MCSO deputies participating in this program and additional funding will allow us to expand our services.”
If approved by lawmakers, the requested funds would help prevent any interruption in school safety measures across Arizona while expanding coverage throughout more campuses.
