Last month, Pennsylvania’s Commission on Crime and Delinquency opened applications for $100 million in School Safety and Mental Health Grants. Every eligible district receives a guaranteed allocation based on enrollment. The noncompetitive structure means schools can apply and receive their designated amount without competing against other entities. Most districts across Pennsylvania qualify for $100,000 to $250,000.
The application deadline is February 27, 2026. Projects can run through June 30, 2027, giving districts nearly two years to implement purchases and programs.
Schools must register in PCCD’s Egrants system before applying. The system requires at least two users from your district, including one person with e-signature authorization.
What the Funding Covers
Pennsylvania statute explicitly includes metal detectors and security-related technology as eligible expenses under Activity 12. Districts can purchase equipment, cover installation costs, train staff, and pay for technical support.
AI-powered weapons detection systems qualify under this statute. Schools can implement complete security solutions that address both equipment needs and staff training requirements. The funding supports the full implementation cycle rather than just hardware purchases.
This represents a significant opportunity for Pennsylvania districts evaluating their security infrastructure. The noncompetitive structure removes the uncertainty typical of grant funding. Schools know their allocation amounts in advance.
The Challenge Traditional Metal Detectors Create
Most districts considering weapons detection default to thinking of traditional walk-through metal detectors, designed in the 1960s. Students empty pockets of phones, Chromebooks, keys, water bottles, calculators, and medical devices. Security staff must then screen every alert. Every single one.
Lines form at building entrances and students arrive late to first period, because security personnel spend their time investigating three-ring binders and thermoses instead of watching for actual threats.
Traditional detectors weren’t designed for educational environments where every student carries multiple electronic devices. They detect all metal equally. A smartphone triggers the same alert as a weapon and a laptop generates the same response as a knife.
During morning arrival when hundreds of students enter within a compressed 15-minute window, this creates serious operational problems. Schools processing 500 students through two entry points face impossible bottlenecks. The math doesn’t work.
Security becomes disruptive rather than protective. The welcoming educational atmosphere schools work to maintain becomes difficult to preserve and students experience security as an obstacle rather than protection.
How AI-Powered Detection Solves This Problem
AI sensors identify specific threats through analysis of shape, density, and concealment patterns. The technology distinguishes between everyday items and weapons while students walk through at normal speed without emptying pockets. Security receives alerts only when the system detects potential weapons based on object characteristics.
The operational difference matters. Security staff can direct their attention toward genuine threats instead of managing constant false alerts from harmless items.
Pennsylvania schools serve diverse student populations including students with disabilities. The technology accommodates students with medical devices, mobility aids, and assistive technology. Security works for everyone without creating barriers, or carrying bias.
Modern detection systems generate documentation of screening activity, alert patterns, and response protocols that helps districts demonstrate compliance with state security standards and provides data for evaluating program effectiveness.
Understanding The Grant Requirements
Schools must meet Pennsylvania’s Level 1 Physical Security Baseline Criteria before purchasing advanced security technology. These criteria establish minimum standards for security assessments, visitor management, door locks, emergency communications, and law enforcement partnerships.
Districts that haven’t met these baseline requirements can use grant funds to address those gaps first. Pennsylvania designed the funding structure to help schools build security infrastructure systematically rather than implementing isolated solutions.
Districts can request funding for new security enhancements, increased capacity beyond current levels, or equipment that addresses documented security gaps as long as grant funds supplement existing budgets rather than replace current allocations.
Pennsylvania procurement law requires competitive quotes for purchases in certain dollar ranges. Most weapons detection systems fall into the category requiring written quotes from three qualified vendors. Schools need to account for these requirements in their planning timeline.
Implementation Considerations
Projects can run through June 30, 2027, giving districts nearly two years for implementation which supports careful vendor selection and thorough staff training. Districts can evaluate first-year results before expanding systems. The extended project period allows schools to adjust their approach based on operational experience rather than rushing deployment.
Schools should start applications immediately. Pennsylvania’s Commission on Crime and Delinquency reviews submissions on a rolling basis. Earlier applications receive faster review and approval.
Why This Funding Opportunity Matters
Pennsylvania allocated significant resources specifically for school safety infrastructure. The state recognized that effective security requires investment beyond what many districts can manage from operating budgets alone.
Districts need security solutions that address both state requirements and daily operational realities. Traditional metal detectors create as many problems as they solve in educational settings. Students carry too many metal objects for traditional detection to work effectively.
AI-powered weapons detection addresses this challenge directly. The technology was designed for environments where people carry personal electronics and other metal items. Schools get effective security without the operational disruption that undermines the educational mission.
Pennsylvania gave districts the funding, but now schools need to implement solutions that actually work in educational environments.
Contact us at sales@xtractone.com to discuss how SmartGateway and Xtract One Gateway systems can help your district meet Pennsylvania security requirements while maintaining smooth daily operations. We can walk you through technical specifications, implementation timelines, and how our solutions align with grant funding requirements.
For Pennsylvania School Safety and Mental Health Grant details, visit www.pccd.pa.gov.