Horne seeks $180 million to expand school safety program

By Stacy Mantle
Mail

Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne submitted a $180 million request to the Arizona Legislature to sustain and expand the School Safety Program once current state and federal funds expire.

“Over the past several weeks, our nation has witnessed terrible school tragedies,” Horne said. “This problem is not going away, and we need to address it aggressively. This request adds dollars to hire and train officers for more schools statewide to protect students, educators and classified staff.”

During a recent press conference unveiling his plan, Horne pointed to a Tucson incident earlier this year in which an officer, funded through the program, arrested an armed intruder on campus.

“This program works and deserves more funding so it can be expanded. Every parent should want an officer on their child’s campus,” he said.

Currently, Arizona schools can staff their campuses with three types of safety personnel through the state’s School Safety Program:

• School Resource Officers (SROs): Sworn police officers who have been part of the program since its creation in 1994. House Bill 2074 expanded the definition of SROs in state law to formally include retired police officers in good standing, allowing districts greater flexibility to fill vacancies.
• Juvenile Probation Officers (JPOs): Added later as an option, these officers are assigned by the courts to focus on prevention, mentoring and intervention for at-risk youth.
• School Safety Officers (SSOs): A newer category created to address staffing shortages. SSOs are armed but not sworn law enforcement — often retired officers who complete required training.

While many welcome a police presence in schools, some say more money also should be allocated to counselors.

“We believe there is more that can — and should — be done to keep our schools safe, including the ability for schools to invest in counselors to meet the needs of their students and communities,” said Rebecca Gau, executive director of Stand for Children in Arizona. “While in a lot of cases, parents do appreciate resource officers de-escalating situations, they also very much appreciate school counselors as a preventative measure altogether.”

Law enforcement backs expansion

Maricopa County Sheriff Jerry Sheridan called the program “essential,” noting dozens of deputies already serve schools under its funding.

“There is no greater responsibility for society than to do everything possible to keep children safe, especially in a place of learning,” he said in a press release.

Horne is seeking more funding under House Bill 2074, passed by the Legislature during the most recent session. It gives districts flexibility in hiring: if they cannot staff an officer, they may redirect safety funds toward technology, training or infrastructure upgrades.

All officers hired under the program — including retirees — must complete training on civil rights, adolescent mental health, student privacy laws and working effectively with students with disabilities. 

The recently passed law also updated state law to formally include retired officers within the definition of SROs, creating a path for schools to tap into decades of law enforcement experience while modernizing their approach to campus safety.

“Even if we gave every school an SRO, there aren’t enough officers to go around,” said Rep. Matt Gress, R-Phoenix. “SSOs open up school safety.”

"We currently have 489 SRO grants: 242 are served by SROs; three are served by JPOs; 244 are served by SSOs." said Rick Medina, community relations manager for the Arizona Department of Education.

When asked about payroll costs for these security additions, Medina said, “We do not provide salary schedules/funding guidelines for schools, but budgets are checked against submitted contracts and statements of salaries/benefits.”

Maricopa County Schools Superintendent Shelli Boggs stated in the press release, “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.”

Emergency operation plans failing

While schools have been legally required to maintain emergency operation plans since 2001, the state has not consistently monitored or enforced compliance. As a result, many districts either let plans become outdated, failed to train staff on them, or never coordinated with local first responders.

A recent audit suggests this isn’t a handful of isolated lapses but a systemic failure that leaves wide disparities in preparedness across Arizona schools.

Emergency operations plans are meant to be the backbone of school safety, outlining how campuses will prevent, respond to and recover from crises ranging from active shooters to natural disasters. Yet in Arizona, recent audits and safety assessments have highlighted major gaps: many schools either lack updated EOPs, fail to train staff on them, or have never coordinated their plans with local law enforcement or emergency responders. 

“Since 2001, schools in this state have been required to have EOPs, emergency operation plans. The standards for those plans are jointly created by the Arizona Department of Education and the Department of Emergency and Military Affairs,” said Mike Curtinbach, director of school safety at the Arizona Department of Education, during Horne's press conference. “Of the 47 schools that were audited, three didn't have a plan at all. There were 44 that were presented to the Joint Legislative Audit Committee. None technically passed. There's 30 minimum standards. The highest score was 17.” 

The state does not consistently mandate or monitor compliance, leaving  disparities between well-resourced districts and those struggling with outdated protocols, officials said.

This lack of preparedness leaves students and educators vulnerable — not only in high-profile emergencies but also in day-to-day safety risks — and underscores the urgent need for Arizona to prioritize uniform, well-funded EOP implementation statewide, officials said.

Critics urge broader approach

Yet some educators and safety advocates question whether putting more armed officers on campuses is the best or only solution.

Beth Lewis, director of Save Our Schools Arizona, argued the state must balance resources between law enforcement and mental-health professionals.

“While officers can respond to immediate threats, research shows counselors and social workers play a key role in preventing violence before it occurs. Arizona already ranks near the bottom nationally in counselor-to-student ratios. We can’t afford to neglect those needs,” she said.

That view was reinforced by Heidi Vega, president of the National School Public Relations Association, speaking on behalf of ASBA.

“The Arizona School Boards Association believes that keeping students safe requires a comprehensive approach that addresses both immediate security needs and the long-term well-being of students,” Vega said. “While law enforcement presence on campuses can be one element of school safety, our members have consistently emphasized that resources must also support school counselors, nurses, social workers, mental health services and evidence-based training programs that foster safe, supportive learning environments.”

As the report concludes, “The most effective strategies for safe schools are those that build trust, foster belonging, and support students’ academic and social success.”

Path forward

Horne's funding request comes as districts continue to navigate rising concerns over school safety amid national incidents of violence. Arizona’s program, created in 1994, has shifted over time from focusing on prevention and counseling to prioritizing armed officers.

Recent research from the Learning Policy Institute analyzes two major approaches to school safety: physical security measures, such as locked access, cameras, metal detectors, and armed resource officers, and community-building supports, such as mental-health services, social-emotional learning, and restorative practices.

The study found that while security tactics are widespread, there is limited evidence they improve safety — and some, like school resource officers, are linked to higher suspension and arrest rates, particularly for students of color.

In contrast, creating supportive environments shows stronger results: schools with robust student supports report up to 15% fewer disciplinary incidents and stronger attendance. 

As the report concludes, “The most effective strategies for safe schools are those that build trust, foster belonging, and support students’ academic and social success.”

If approved, Horne’s proposal would ensure the program doesn’t lapse in 2026 and would expand officer training and availability. Lawmakers are expected to debate the request in the upcoming session, weighing community calls for both immediate security and long-term mental-health investments.

Editor’s note: A grant from the Arizona Local News Foundation made this story possible. The foundation awarded 15 newsrooms to pay for solutions-focused education reporters for two years. Please submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters or email them to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.