Ind. Code § 10-21-1-0.5 Application
Sec. 0.5. This chapter does not apply to a virtual charter school or a virtual accredited nonpublic school.
As added by P.L.197-2019, SEC.2.
Ind. Code ch. 10-21-1
Ind. Code ch. 10-21-1
in effectInd. Code § 10-21-1-1 Definitions
Sec. 1. The following definitions apply throughout this chapter:
(1) "Accredited nonpublic school" means a nonpublic school that:
(A) has voluntarily become accredited under IC 20-31-4.1; or
(B) is accredited by a national or regional accrediting agency that is recognized by the state board of education.
(2) "Active event warning system" refers to a system that includes services and technology that will notify available law enforcement agencies in the area of a school building of a life threatening emergency.
(3) "ADM" refers to average daily membership determined under IC 20-43-4-2. In the case of a school corporation career and technical education school described in IC 20-37-1-1, "ADM" refers to the count on a full-time equivalency basis of students attending the school on the date ADM is determined under IC 20-43-4-2.
(4) "Board" refers to the secured school safety board established by section 3 of this chapter.
(5) "Bullying prevention program" refers to a program that must contain one (1) or more of the following components:
(A) Offers students and school personnel opportunities to develop the skills and strategies to prevent bullying and potential bullying situations in digital and physical spaces, including the usage of research based models.
(B) Enables school personnel, including school safety specialists, safe school committee members, and school resource officers, to identify and acquire the programs, technology software, resources, and training necessary concerning the:
(i) development and implementation of bullying and cyberbullying prevention programs and school violence, human trafficking, and self-harm mitigation programs;
(ii) establishment of bullying and cyberbullying investigation, intervention, and reporting procedures;
(iii) adoption of discipline rules that comply with IC 20-33-8-13.5; and
(iv) integration of the program into wider school efforts, including a school safety plan, to promote educational progress and the physical safety and well-being of school students, families, faculty, and staff.
(6) "County school safety commission" has the meaning set forth in section 12 of this chapter.
(7) "Critical incidence digital mapping" means the digitized mapping of a school building and school grounds to best assist first responders in an emergency that must:
(A) include accurate floor plans overlaid on or current aerial imagery of a school building or school plan with surrounding school grounds;
(B) include site-specific labeling that matches:
(i) the structure of the school building, including room labels, hallway names, room numbers, external doors, interior doors, stairwell numbers, locations of hazardous materials, key utility locations, key boxes, automated external defibrillators, and trauma kits; and
(ii) the school grounds, including parking areas, athletic fields, surrounding roads, and neighboring proprieties;
(C) be compatible with platforms and applications used by local, state, and federal public safety agencies;
(D) be verified for accuracy through a walk through of a school building and school grounds;
(E) not require the purchase of additional software for use;
(F) be accessible in a printable format;
(G) be shared with:
(i) the law enforcement agency and fire department that have jurisdiction over the mapped school building; and
(ii) the statewide 911 system as described in IC 36-8-16.7-22 through the public safety answer point, or "PSAP", described in IC 36-8-16.7-20 that has jurisdiction over the mapped school building; and
(H) be kept confidential and withheld from public disclosure.
(8) "Fund" refers to the Indiana secured school fund established by section 2 of this chapter.
(9) "Law enforcement agency" refers to a state, local, or federal agency or department that would respond to an emergency event at a school, including both on duty and off duty officers within the agency or department.
(10) "Multi-disciplinary threat assessment team" means a group of individuals with expertise in school physical security, school administration, educational instruction, youth counseling, mental health and behavioral health, and law enforcement established by the leadership of the school corporation or charter school that may serve one (1) or more schools, that must meet the following requirements:
(A) Be comprised of at least:
(i) a school safety specialist or an individual designated by the school safety committee;
(ii) a member of a safe school committee;
(iii) a school building level administrator;
(iv) a school resource officer, if one (1) is either employed by or assigned to the school corporation or charter school;
(v) an individual with expertise in special education; and
(vi) a school counselor or social worker.
(B) Conduct multi-disciplinary threat assessments that shall:
(i) provide guidance to students, faculty, and staff regarding the recognition of threatening or aberrant behavior that may represent a threat to the community, school, or self;
(ii) identify members of the school community to whom threatening behavior should be reported;
(iii) establish procedures to assess, identify, and intervene with individuals whose behavior may pose a threat to the safety of school students, families, faculty, and staff; and
(iv) inform the adoption, implementation, and updating of policies adopted by the school corporation or charter school, including school safety plans and the policies of a safe school committee for a particular school.
(11) "Safe school committee" means a safe school committee established under section 14 of this chapter.
(12) "School corporation or charter school" refers to an individual school corporation, a school corporation career and technical education school described in IC 20-37-1-1, or a charter school but also includes:
(A) a coalition of school corporations;
(B) a coalition of charter schools; or
(C) a coalition of both school corporations and charter schools;
that intend to jointly employ a school resource officer or to jointly apply for a matching grant under this chapter, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
(13) "School official" refers to an employee of a school corporation, charter school, or accredited nonpublic school who has access to an active event warning system.
(14) "School resource officer" has the meaning set forth in IC 20-26-18.2-1.
(15) "School safety plan" means the school safety plan described in section 10 of this chapter.
(16) "School safety specialist" means a school safety specialist designated under section 9 of this chapter.
(17) "Site vulnerability assessment" means an examination of the physical safety, security, accessibility, and emergency preparedness of buildings and grounds.
(18) "Student safety management technology" refers to an information technology platform and related services to improve student safety by mitigating cyberbullying, school violence, human trafficking, and self-harm.
As added by P.L.172-2013, SEC.6. Amended by P.L.40-2014, SEC.6; P.L.109-2015, SEC.30; P.L.50-2019, SEC.1; P.L.92-2020, SEC.8; P.L.150-2023, SEC.2.
Ind. Code § 10-21-1-2 Indiana secured school fund; matching grant
Sec. 2. (a) The Indiana secured school fund is established to provide:
(1) matching grants to school corporations, charter schools, and accredited nonpublic schools, where the matching grants may be used to:
(A) employ a school resource officer, employ a law enforcement officer, or enter into a contract or a memorandum of understanding with a:
(i) local law enforcement agency;
(ii) private entity; or
(iii) nonprofit corporation;
to employ a school resource officer or a law enforcement officer;
(B) conduct:
(i) a site vulnerability assessment of the buildings within a school corporation or the buildings that are operated by a charter school or accredited nonpublic school; or
(ii) critical incident digital mapping of the buildings within a school corporation or the buildings that are operated by a charter school or accredited nonpublic school;
(C) purchase equipment, hardware, materials, and technology to:
(i) restrict access to school property and classrooms;
(ii) assist with visitor management on school property;
(iii) expedite notification of first responders;
(iv) expedite access to school property for first responders;
(v) provide school staff with information about the open or closed status of interior and exterior doors;
(vi) detect fire, chemical, visual, or audible threats;
(vii) enhance emergency communications inside the building; or
(viii) assist with emergency medical response on school property;
(D) implement a student and parent support services plan;
(E) purchase or provide training for a canine trained to detect drugs and illegal substances, explosives, or firearms, or to otherwise provide protection for students and school employees and the canine shall:
(i) be primarily assigned to a school corporation, charter school, or accredited nonpublic school;
(ii) be primarily assigned to a school resource officer or law enforcement officer described in clause (A) who has received appropriate training for handling a canine trained to detect drugs and illegal substances, explosives, or firearms, or to otherwise provide protection for students and school employees, including training regarding handling a canine in a school setting; and
(iii) receive continuous training as appropriate;
(F) provide funding for school employees to receive training, including expenses for per diem, travel, and lodging, related to:
(i) site vulnerability assessments;
(ii) mental health or behavioral health threat assessments;
(iii) multi-disciplinary threat assessment teams; or
(iv) emergency preparedness or response activities;
(G) provide funding for school resource officers or law enforcement officers described in clause (A) to receive training, including expenses for per diem, travel, and lodging, related to handling a canine trained to detect drugs and illegal substances, explosives, or firearms, or to otherwise provide protection for students and school employees;
(H) purchase student safety management technology;
(I) design and construct additions or renovations on school property if the primary purpose of the construction project is to enhance the physical security of the school building; or
(J) implement a bullying prevention program; and
(2) one (1) time grants to enable school corporations, charter schools, and accredited nonpublic schools with the sheriff for the county in which the school corporation, charter school, or accredited nonpublic school is located, to provide the initial set up costs for an active event warning system.
(b) A school corporation or charter school may use money received under a matching grant for a purpose listed in subsection (a) to provide a response to a threat in a manner that the school corporation or charter school sees fit, including firearms training or other self-defense training.
(c) The fund shall be administered by the department of homeland security.
(d) The fund consists of:
(1) appropriations from the general assembly;
(2) federal grants;
(3) amounts deposited from any other public or private source; and
(4) amounts deposited under IC 33-37-9-4.
(e) The expenses of administering the fund shall be paid from money in the fund.
(f) The treasurer of state shall invest the money in the fund not currently needed to meet the obligations of the fund in the same manner as other public money may be invested. Interest that accrues from these investments shall be deposited in the fund.
(g) Money in the fund at the end of a state fiscal year does not revert to the state general fund.
As added by P.L.172-2013, SEC.6. Amended by P.L.197-2019, SEC.3; P.L.50-2019, SEC.2; P.L.153-2019, SEC.1; P.L.272-2019, SEC.3; P.L.139-2022, SEC.1; P.L.150-2023, SEC.3; P.L.201-2023, SEC.128; P.L.213-2025, SEC.108; P.L.23-2026, SEC.67; P.L.74-2026, SEC.10.
Ind. Code § 10-21-1-3 Secured school safety board
Sec. 3. (a) The secured school safety board is established to approve or disapprove applications for matching grants to fund programs described in section 2(a)(1) of this chapter and grants described in section 2(a)(2) of this chapter to fund the initial set up costs for an active event warning system.
(b) The board consists of eleven (11) members appointed as follows:
(1) The executive director of the department of homeland security or the executive director's designee. The executive director of the department of homeland security or the executive director's designee serves as the chairperson of the board.
(2) The attorney general or the attorney general's designee.
(3) The superintendent of the state police department or the superintendent's designee.
(4) A local law enforcement officer appointed by the governor.
(5) The secretary of education or the secretary's designee.
(6) The director of the criminal justice institute or the director's designee.
(7) An employee of a local school corporation appointed by the governor.
(8) An employee of a charter school appointed by the governor.
(9) A school resource officer appointed by the governor.
(10) An emergency medical responder appointed by the governor.
(11) A firefighter appointed by the governor.
(c) The board shall establish criteria to be used in evaluating applications for grants from the fund. These criteria must:
(1) be consistent with the fund's goals; and
(2) provide for an equitable distribution of grants to school corporations, charter schools, and accredited nonpublic schools located throughout Indiana.
As added by P.L.172-2013, SEC.6. Amended by P.L.197-2019, SEC.4; P.L.50-2019, SEC.3; P.L.211-2019, SEC.12; P.L.43-2021, SEC.34; P.L.238-2025, SEC.41.
Ind. Code § 10-21-1-4 Award of matching grants; amount and use of grants; match requirements; county school safety commission requirement
Sec. 4. (a) The board may award a matching grant to enable a school corporation, charter school, or accredited nonpublic school (or a coalition of schools applying jointly) to:
(1) employ a school resource officer, employ a law enforcement officer, or enter into a contract or memorandum of understanding with a:
(A) local law enforcement agency;
(B) private entity; or
(C) nonprofit corporation;
to employ a school resource officer or a law enforcement officer;
(2) conduct a site vulnerability assessment of the buildings within a school corporation or the buildings that are operated by a charter school or accredited nonpublic school;
(3) conduct critical incident digital mapping of the buildings within a school corporation or the buildings that are operated by a charter school or accredited nonpublic school;
(4) purchase equipment, hardware, materials, and technology to:
(A) restrict access to school property and classrooms;
(B) assist with visitor management on school property;
(C) expedite notification of first responders;
(D) expedite access to school property for first responders;
(E) provide staff with information about open or closed status of interior and exterior doors;
(F) detect fire, chemical, visual, or audible threats;
(G) enhance emergency communications inside the school building;
(H) assist with emergency medical response on school property; or
(I) monitor areas of school property used for student seclusion (as defined in IC 20-20.5-13-9) or time-out (as defined in IC 20-20.5-13-10) with audiovisual devices;
(5) implement a student and parent support services plan;
(6) purchase or provide training for a canine trained to detect drugs and illegal substances, explosives, or firearms, or to otherwise provide protection for students and school employees and the canine shall:
(A) be primarily assigned to a school corporation, charter school, or accredited nonpublic school;
(B) be primarily assigned to a school resource officer or law enforcement officer described in subdivision (1)(A) who has received appropriate training for handling a canine trained to detect drugs and illegal substances, explosives, or firearms, or to otherwise provide protection for students and school employees, including training regarding handling a canine in a school setting; and
(C) receive continuous training as appropriate;
(7) provide funding for:
(A) school employees to receive training, including expenses for per diem, travel, and lodging, related to:
(i) site vulnerability assessments;
(ii) mental health or behavioral health threat assessments;
(iii) multi-disciplinary threat assessment teams; or
(iv) emergency preparedness or response activities; or
(B) school resource officers or law enforcement officers described in subdivision (1)(A) to receive training, including expenses for per diem, travel, and lodging, related to handling a canine trained to detect drugs and illegal substances, explosives, or firearms, or to otherwise provide protection for students and school employees;
(8) design and construct additions or renovations on school property if the primary purpose of the construction project is to enhance the physical security of the school building;
(9) provide one (1) time grants to enable school corporations, charter schools, and accredited nonpublic schools with the sheriff for the county in which the school corporation, charter school, or accredited nonpublic school is located to provide the initial set up costs for an active event warning system;
(10) implement a bullying prevention program; or
(11) purchase student safety management technology;
in accordance with section 2(a) of this chapter.
(b) A matching grant awarded to a school corporation, charter school, or accredited nonpublic school (or a coalition of schools applying jointly) may not exceed the lesser of the following during a two (2) year period beginning on or after May 1, 2013:
(1) The total cost of the program established by the school corporation, charter school, or accredited nonpublic school (or the coalition of schools applying jointly).
(2) Except as provided in subsection (d), the following amounts:
(A) Thirty-five thousand dollars ($35,000) per year, in the case of a school corporation, charter school, or accredited nonpublic school that:
(i) has an ADM of at least one (1) and less than one thousand one (1,001) students; and
(ii) is not applying jointly with any other school corporation, charter school, or accredited nonpublic school.
(B) Fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) per year, in the case of a school corporation, charter school, or accredited nonpublic school that:
(i) has an ADM of more than one thousand (1,000) and less than five thousand one (5,001) students; and
(ii) is not applying jointly with any other school corporation, charter school, or accredited nonpublic school.
(C) Seventy-five thousand dollars ($75,000) per year, in the case of a school corporation, charter school, or accredited nonpublic school that:
(i) has an ADM of more than five thousand (5,000) and less than fifteen thousand one (15,001) students; and
(ii) is not applying jointly with any other school corporation, charter school, or accredited nonpublic school.
(D) One hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) per year, in the case of a school corporation, charter school, or accredited nonpublic school that:
(i) has an ADM of more than fifteen thousand (15,000); and
(ii) is not applying jointly with any other school corporation, charter school, or accredited nonpublic school.
(E) One hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) per year, in the case of a coalition of schools applying jointly.
(c) Except as provided in subsection (d), the match requirement for a grant under this chapter is based on the ADM for the school corporation, charter school, or accredited nonpublic school (or coalition of schools applying jointly) that is the subject of the grant as follows:
(1) For a school corporation, charter school, or accredited nonpublic school with an ADM of less than five hundred one (501) students, the grant match must be twenty-five percent (25%) of the grant amount described in subsection (b).
(2) For a school corporation, charter school, or accredited nonpublic school with an ADM of more than five hundred (500) and less than one thousand one (1,001) students, the grant match must be fifty percent (50%) of the grant amount described in subsection (b).
(3) For a school corporation, charter school, or accredited nonpublic school with an ADM of more than one thousand (1,000) students or a coalition of schools applying jointly, the grant match must be one hundred percent (100%) of the grant amount described in subsection (b).
(d) A school corporation, charter school, or accredited nonpublic school may be eligible to receive a grant of up to:
(1) one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) if:
(A) the school corporation, charter school, or accredited nonpublic school receives a grant match of one hundred percent (100%) of the requested grant amount; and
(B) the board approves the grant request; or
(2) for a school corporation, charter school, or accredited nonpublic school described in subsection (c)(1) or (c)(2), a grant of up to fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) if:
(A) the school corporation, charter school, or accredited nonpublic school receives a grant match of fifty percent (50%) of the requested grant amount; and
(B) the board approves the grant request.
(e) A school corporation, charter school, or accredited nonpublic school may receive only one (1) matching grant under this section each year.
(f) The board may not award a grant to a school corporation, charter school, or accredited nonpublic school under this section unless the school corporation, charter school, or accredited nonpublic school is in a county that has a county school safety commission, as described in section 12 of this chapter.
As added by P.L.172-2013, SEC.6. Amended by P.L.30-2014, SEC.1; P.L.197-2019, SEC.5; P.L.50-2019, SEC.4; P.L.153-2019, SEC.2; P.L.139-2022, SEC.2; P.L.150-2023, SEC.4; P.L.74-2026, SEC.11.
Ind. Code § 10-21-1-4.5 Grants for active event warning system
Sec. 4.5. (a) The board may award a grant to provide for the initial set up costs for an active event warning system to a school corporation, charter school, or accredited nonpublic school that jointly applies with the sheriff for the county in which the school corporation, charter school, or accredited nonpublic school is located. The specifications for an active event warning system must include the following:
(1) A two (2) phone application based system that includes school officials as a sender within the system and law enforcement agencies as a receiver within the system.
(2) An adjusted geofence to alert law enforcement agencies that are within a certain geographic location, including settings based on rural and urban locations, with an urban setting having a reduced geofence and a rural setting having a broader geofence.
(3) The ability for students and the public to submit anonymous tips through a free reporting application.
(4) The ability for information within the system to be interoperable with 911 dispatch.
(5) The ability to display the school's address and location on a map.
(6) The ability to provide notifications during emergencies and nonemergencies.
(7) The ability to call 911 automatically when the system is triggered.
(8) The ability to operate several individual school response plans.
(b) A school corporation, charter school, or accredited nonpublic school may receive only one (1) grant under this section.
(c) A sheriff for a county may receive multiple grants under this section.
(d) The board may not award a grant to a school corporation or charter school under this section unless the school corporation or charter school is in a county that has a county school safety commission, as described in section 12 of this chapter.
As added by P.L.50-2019, SEC.5. Amended by P.L.150-2023, SEC.5.
Ind. Code § 10-21-1-5 Matching grant application procedure
Sec. 5. (a) A school corporation, charter school, or accredited nonpublic school may annually apply to the board for a matching grant from the fund for a program described in section 2(a)(1) of this chapter.
(b) The application must include the following:
(1) A concise description of the school corporation's, charter school's, or accredited nonpublic school's security needs.
(2) The estimated cost of the program to the school corporation, charter school, or accredited nonpublic school.
(3) The extent to which the school corporation, charter school, or accredited nonpublic school has access to and support from a nearby law enforcement agency and other first responder services, if applicable.
(4) The ADM of the school corporation or charter school or the equivalent for an accredited nonpublic school (or the combined ADM of the coalition of schools applying jointly) that is the subject of the grant application.
(5) Any other information required by the board.
(6) This subdivision applies to an application from a school corporation or charter school (or coalition of public schools applying jointly). A statement whether the school corporation has completed a school safety plan and has filed the school safety plan with the county school safety commission for the county in which the school corporation is located. In the case of a charter school, each charter school shall include a statement whether the charter school has developed and filed with the county school safety commission for the county in which the charter school is located:
(A) a local school safety and emergency plan under IC 20-34-3-23(a); or
(B) not later than July 1, 2024, a school safety plan.
For a charter school in operation on July 1, 2023, the information described in clauses (A) or (B) shall comply with this subdivision on or before July 1, 2024.
(7) This subdivision applies to an application from a school corporation or charter school (or coalition of public schools applying jointly). A statement whether the school corporation or charter school (or coalition of public schools applying jointly) requests an advance under IC 20-49-10 in addition to a matching grant under this chapter.
(8) If the application requests funding for school employee training, the extent to which the school corporation, charter school, or accredited nonpublic school has used or attempted to use training offered at no cost, or a reduced cost, by law enforcement, the department of homeland security, the department of education, or the federal government, including an explanation as to why grant funding is necessary to fund any training expenses except for per diem, travel, and lodging costs associated with training.
(9) If the application requests funding to employ a school resource officer, a statement whether the school resource officer information required under IC 20-26-18.2-5 has been, if applicable, submitted to the department of homeland security.
(10) This subdivision applies to an application from a school corporation, charter school, or an accredited nonpublic school (or coalition of public and accredited nonpublic schools applying jointly). A statement of whether the school corporation, charter school, or accredited nonpublic school has:
(A) provided a copy of the floor plans for each building located on the school's property to the law enforcement agency and the fire department that have jurisdiction over each school building that clearly indicates each entrance and exit, the interior rooms and hallways, and the location of any hazardous materials located in the building; or
(B) conducted critical incidence digital mapping as defined in section 1 of this chapter for each school building, including whether it has provided the critical incidence digital mapping information to:
(i) the law enforcement agency and fire department that have jurisdiction over the mapped school buildings; and
(ii) the statewide 911 system described in IC 36-8-16.7-22 through the public safety answer point, or "PSAP", (as described in IC 36-8-16.7-20) that has jurisdiction over the mapped school buildings.
(c) This subsection applies to an application from a school corporation, charter school, or accredited nonpublic school (or coalition of public and accredited nonpublic schools applying jointly). Each school corporation, charter school, or accredited nonpublic school shall certify to the department of homeland security that the school corporation, charter school, or accredited nonpublic school has:
(1) conducted a site vulnerability assessment for each school building used by the school corporation, charter school, or accredited nonpublic school; and
(2) a memorandum of understanding in place with a community mental health center established under IC 12-29-2 or provider certified or licensed by the state to provide mental or behavioral health services to students before applying for a grant under this chapter. A provider described in this subdivision may be employed by the school corporation, charter school, or accredited nonpublic school.
(d) This subsection applies to an application from a school corporation or charter school (or coalition of public schools applying jointly). Each school corporation shall certify to the department of homeland security that the school safety plan of the school corporation was reviewed by the governing body as described in section 11 of this chapter. In the case of a charter school, beginning July 1, 2024, each charter school shall certify to the department of homeland security that the school safety plan of the charter school was reviewed by the organizer as described in section 11 of this chapter.
As added by P.L.172-2013, SEC.6. Amended by P.L.211-2018(ss), SEC.3; P.L.50-2019, SEC.6; P.L.197-2019, SEC.6; P.L.211-2019, SEC.13; P.L.69-2020, SEC.1; P.L.170-2022, SEC.12; P.L.150-2023, SEC.6.
Ind. Code § 10-21-1-5.5 Grant application for active event warning system; procedure
Sec. 5.5. (a) A school corporation, charter school, or accredited nonpublic school and the sheriff for the county in which the school corporation, charter school, or accredited nonpublic school is located may jointly apply to the board for a one (1) time grant from the fund to provide for the initial set up costs for an active event warning system.
(b) The application must include the following:
(1) A concise description of the school corporation's, charter school's, or accredited nonpublic school's security needs.
(2) Any other information required by the board.
(3) A statement whether the school corporation or charter school has completed a school safety plan and has filed the plan with the county school safety commission for the county in which the school corporation or charter school is located.
(4) A statement from the school corporation, charter school, or accredited nonpublic school verifying that the active event warning system meets the specifications listed under section 4.5(a) of this chapter.
As added by P.L.50-2019, SEC.7. Amended by P.L.150-2023, SEC.7.
Ind. Code § 10-21-1-6 Repayment of grant not required
Sec. 6. A school corporation, charter school, or accredited nonpublic school that is awarded a grant under this chapter is not required to repay or reimburse the board or fund the amount of the grant.
As added by P.L.172-2013, SEC.6. Amended by P.L.197-2019, SEC.7; P.L.50-2019, SEC.8; P.L.211-2019, SEC.14; P.L.150-2023, SEC.8.
Ind. Code § 10-21-1-6.5 Secured school safety board review of advances from common school fund
Sec. 6.5. If a school corporation or charter school (or a coalition of public schools applying jointly) indicates on an application under section 5 of this chapter that the school corporation or charter school (or coalition of public schools applying jointly) requests, in addition to the matching grant under this chapter, an advance under IC 20-49-10, the board shall review the application and may make recommendations to the state board to approve or deny an advance in the manner prescribed in IC 20-49-10-6.
As added by P.L.211-2018(ss), SEC.4.
Ind. Code § 10-21-1-7 Department of homeland security to annually report to budget committee concerning the grant program
Sec. 7. The department of homeland security shall report before October 1 of each year to the budget committee concerning grants awarded under this chapter during the previous fiscal year.
As added by P.L.172-2013, SEC.6. Amended by P.L.50-2019, SEC.9.
Ind. Code § 10-21-1-8 Submission of report to legislative council
Sec. 8. Not later than November 1, 2023, and each November 1 thereafter, the board shall conduct a review and submit a report to the governor and legislative council in an electronic format under IC 5-14-6. The report:
(1) must provide an overview of the current status of school safety across the state;
(2) must include information concerning grants awarded under this chapter since the establishment of this chapter;
(3) must include the aggregate statewide school resource officer information specified and collected under IC 20-26-18.2-5(d); and
(4) may make recommendations to improve the safety of elementary and secondary school students.
As added by P.L.211-2018(ss), SEC.5. Amended by P.L.150-2023, SEC.9.
Ind. Code § 10-21-1-9 School safety specialist; duties
Sec. 9. (a) Each school corporation shall designate at least one (1) individual who is not a school resource officer as described in IC 20-26-18.2-2 to serve as the school safety specialist for the school corporation.
(b) Each charter school shall designate at least one (1) individual who is not a school resource officer as described in IC 20-26-18.2-2 to serve as the school safety specialist for the charter school. A charter school in operation on July 1, 2023, shall comply with this subsection on or before July 1, 2024.
(c) All school safety specialists shall be chosen by the superintendent of the school corporation or leadership of the charter school with the approval of the governing body or organizer.
(d) A school safety specialist shall perform the following duties:
(1) Serve on the county school safety commission with jurisdiction over the school corporation if that individual school safety specialist is chosen by the superintendent of the school corporation with the approval of the governing body. Except as provided in section 12 of this chapter, the school safety specialists of charter schools do not serve on a county school safety commission.
(2) Participate each year in a number of days of school safety training that the office of school safety determines necessary under section 13 of this chapter.
(3) With the assistance of the county school safety commission with jurisdiction over the school corporation or charter school, develop, implement, and improve a school safety plan for each school building in the school corporation or charter school.
(4) Coordinate the school safety plans of each school building in the school corporation or charter school as required under this chapter and under rules adopted by the Indiana state board of education.
(5) Act as a resource for the school corporation's or charter school's safe school committees and other individuals in the school corporation or charter school on issues related to school discipline, safety, and security.
(6) Serve as a liaison for the school corporation or charter school regarding school safety matters with the board, the department of homeland security, the department of education, the Indiana criminal justice institute, and other state agencies, as applicable.
As added by P.L.150-2023, SEC.10. Amended by P.L.28-2026, SEC.18.
Ind. Code § 10-21-1-10 School safety plan; requirements; withholding from public disclosure
Sec. 10. (a) A school corporation shall develop a school safety plan in accordance with subsection (c) for review as described in section 11 of this chapter.
(b) Each charter school shall develop a school safety plan in accordance with subsection (c) for review as described in section 11 of this chapter. A charter school in operation on July 1, 2023, shall comply with this subsection on or before July 1, 2024.
(c) The school safety plan:
(1) must be developed by a school safety specialist and the school's safe school committee, including a school resource officer if one (1) is employed by the school corporation or charter school, in consultation with the:
(A) law enforcement agency; and
(B) fire department;
that have jurisdiction over the particular school building;
(2) must:
(A) protect against outside and internal threats to the physical safety of students, faculty, staff, and the public, including unsafe conditions, crime prevention, school violence, bullying and cyberbullying, criminal organization activity, child abuse and child sexual abuse, mental health and behavioral health, suicide awareness and prevention, violence prevention and training, situational awareness, and other issues that prevent the maintenance of a safe school;
(B) prevent unauthorized access to school property and interior areas or rooms, including the management of authorized visitors on school property, before, during, and after regular school hours;
(C) secure schools against natural and manmade disasters, including all emergency preparedness drill requirements set forth in IC 20-34-3-20;
(D) establish an armed intruder drill protocol that:
(i) provides accommodations for students who have mobility restrictions, sensory needs, or auditory or visual limitations;
(ii) emphasizes the practical nature of the drill;
(iii) provides access to mental health services on school grounds following the conclusion of a drill;
(iv) provides advance notice of a drill to parents or legal guardians of students who attend the school; and
(v) provides alternative exercises for students who are unable to participate in a drill;
(E) include a site vulnerability assessment for each school building;
(F) not later than July 1, 2025, include the establishment of a multi-disciplinary threat assessment team;
(G) include measures to expedite notification of first responders and access to school property for first responders; and
(H) include any additional requirements required by the Indiana state board of education;
(3) must be provided to a member of the board if a member requests the school safety plan;
(4) must be available for inspection by the department's office of school safety (as established by IC 10-19-3.5-4);
(5) must be provided to the law enforcement agency and the fire department that have jurisdiction over the school corporation or charter school;
(6) must include an attestation that:
(A) a copy of the floor plans for each building located on the school's property were provided to the law enforcement agency and the fire department that have jurisdiction over the school corporation or charter school that clearly indicates each entrance and exit, the interior rooms and hallways, and the location of any hazardous materials located in the building; or
(B) the school corporation or charter school has conducted critical incidence digital mapping for each school building within the school corporation or the buildings that are operated by a charter school, including providing the critical incidence digital mapping information to:
(i) the law enforcement agency and fire department that have jurisdiction over the mapped school buildings; and
(ii) the statewide 911 system described in IC 36-8-16.7-22 through the public safety answer point, or "PSAP", described in IC 36-8-16.7-20 that has jurisdiction over the mapped school buildings; and
(7) must be filed with the county school safety commission under section 12 of this chapter having jurisdiction over the school corporation or charter school.
(d) For purposes of IC 5-14-3, the entities specified in subsection (c) that receive information under this section shall keep the information compiled and retained under this section confidential and shall withhold the information from public disclosure.
As added by P.L.150-2023, SEC.11. Amended by P.L.135-2024, SEC.1; P.L.238-2025, SEC.42.
Ind. Code § 10-21-1-11 School safety plan; presentation
Sec. 11. (a) Before the school safety plan developed under section 10 of this chapter is provided to or filed with the entities specified under this chapter, the superintendent (or the equivalent for a charter school) or a school safety specialist of the school corporation or charter school shall present the proposed school safety plan to the governing body or, if applicable, the charter school organizer, in executive session.
(b) The governing body or organizer may meet in executive session to receive school safety updates from the superintendent, a school safety specialist, a school resource officer, or a member of a safe school committee under section 14 of this chapter.
(c) Notwithstanding the requirement to submit the school safety plan to certain entities under state law, the school corporation or charter school shall keep the school safety plan confidential and withhold it from public disclosure.
As added by P.L.150-2023, SEC.12.
Ind. Code § 10-21-1-12 County school safety commission establishment; members; duties; school safety plans
Sec. 12. (a) Not later than December 31, 2023, a county shall establish a county school safety commission. Unless otherwise specified in subsection (b)(1) through (b)(12), the members described in subsection (b) are appointed by the school corporation having the largest ADM (as defined in IC 20-18-2-2), as determined in the fall count of ADM in the school year ending in the current calendar year.
(b) The members of the commission are as follows:
(1) A school safety specialist for each school corporation located in whole or in part in the county.
(2) The judge of the court having juvenile jurisdiction in the county or the judge's designee.
(3) The sheriff of the county or the sheriff's designee.
(4) The chief officer of every other law enforcement agency in the county, or the chief officer's designee.
(5) A representative of the juvenile probation system, appointed by the judge described in subdivision (2).
(6) Representatives of community agencies that work with children within the county.
(7) A representative of the Indiana state police district that serves the county, appointed by the Indiana state police.
(8) A prosecuting attorney or deputy prosecuting attorney who specializes in the prosecution of juveniles, appointed by the prosecuting attorney.
(9) A school safety specialist of a charter school representing the interests and viewpoints of charter schools within the commission's jurisdiction if at least one (1) charter school within the commission's jurisdiction requests to participate.
(10) A school safety specialist of an accredited nonpublic school representing the interests and viewpoints of accredited nonpublic schools within the commission's jurisdiction if at least one (1) accredited nonpublic school requests to participate.
(11) The fire chief of a fire department in the county, or the fire chief's designee.
(12) Other appropriate individuals selected by the commission.
(c) Once a commission is established, the school safety specialist of the school corporation having the largest ADM (as defined in IC 20-18-2-2), as determined in the fall count of ADM in the school year ending in the current calendar year, in the county shall convene the initial meeting of the commission.
(d) The members shall annually elect a chairperson.
(e) A commission shall perform the following duties:
(1) Periodically perform a cumulative analysis of school safety needs within the county.
(2) Coordinate and make recommendations for the following:
(A) Prevention of juvenile offenses and improving the reporting of juvenile offenses within the schools.
(B) Proposals for identifying and assessing children who are at high risk of experiencing a mental health or behavioral health crisis or becoming juvenile offenders.
(C) Methods to meet the educational needs of children who have been detained as juvenile offenders.
(D) Methods to improve communications among agencies that work with children.
(E) Methods to improve school security and emergency preparedness.
(F) Additional equipment or personnel that are necessary to carry out school safety plans.
(G) Pooling resources, combining purchases, using shared administrative services, or collaborating among participating school corporations, school corporation career and technical education schools described in IC 20-37-1-1, and charter schools to improve the maintenance of safe schools.
(H) Implementing best practices and procedures to use critical incidence digital mapping in the event of an emergency within the county.
(I) Any other topic the commission considers necessary to improve school safety within the commission's jurisdiction.
(3) Provide assistance to school safety specialists and school resource officers within the commission's jurisdiction in developing and:
(A) implementing school safety plans; and
(B) requesting grants from the fund.
(4) Assist accredited nonpublic schools within the commission's jurisdiction that voluntarily submit a school safety plan or a local school safety and emergency plan (described in IC 20-34-3-23) to the commission seeking assistance in carrying out the school safety plan.
(f) The affirmative votes of a majority of the voting members of the commission are required for the commission to take action on a measure.
(g) A commission shall receive the school safety plans for the school corporations and charter schools located in the county.
(h) A commission may receive from an accredited nonpublic school within the commission's jurisdiction a school safety plan or a local school safety and emergency plan described in IC 20-34-3-23.
(i) The commission shall keep the school safety plans compiled and retained under this section confidential and shall withhold the information from public disclosure.
(j) The commission may share the school safety plans under subsections (g) and (h) with law enforcement and first responder agencies that have jurisdiction over the school corporation, charter school, or accredited nonpublic school. For the purposes of IC 5-14-3, the entities receiving a school safety plan under this subsection shall keep information compiled and retained under subsections (g) and (h) confidential and shall withhold the information from public disclosure.
(k) A commission shall annually submit to the board on a date established by the board:
(1) meeting minutes;
(2) any meeting agenda materials directly related to taking action on a measure under this section; and
(3) a brief annual summary of its activities and accomplishments.
As added by P.L.150-2023, SEC.13. Amended by P.L.148-2024, SEC.7; P.L.27-2025, SEC.1.
Ind. Code § 10-21-1-13 School safety specialist training and certification program; curriculum and standards
Sec. 13. (a) The school safety specialist training and certification program is established. The program shall be administered by the office of school safety (as established by IC 10-19-3.5-4).
(b) The school safety specialist training and certification program shall provide:
(1) annual training sessions, which may be conducted through distance learning or at regional centers; and
(2) information concerning best practices and available resources;
for school safety specialists and county school safety commissions.
(c) The office of school safety (as established by IC 10-19-3.5-4) in consultation with the board and the department of education, shall do the following:
(1) Assemble an advisory group of school safety specialists from around the state to make recommendations concerning the curriculum and standards for school safety specialist training.
(2) Develop an appropriate curriculum and the standards for the school safety specialist training and certification program. The office of school safety may consult with national school safety experts in developing the curriculum and standards. The curriculum developed under this subdivision must include training in:
(A) identifying, preventing, and intervening in bullying and cyberbullying;
(B) identifying, preventing, and intervening in criminal organization activity;
(C) identifying, preventing, and intervening in actions by a person who is present on school property with the intent to harm another person;
(D) developing and implementing a school safety plan in accordance with this chapter;
(E) using a county school safety commission to improve school safety and emergency preparedness; and
(F) using safe school committees to improve safety and emergency preparedness for each school building.
(3) Administer the school safety specialist training and certification program, including the following duties:
(A) Establish a school safety specialist certificate for candidates eligible under section 9 of this chapter who have successfully completed the training program.
(B) Review the qualifications of each candidate, determine their eligibility for certification, and present a certificate to each school safety specialist eligible for certification.
As added by P.L.150-2023, SEC.14. Amended by P.L.238-2025, SEC.43.
Ind. Code § 10-21-1-14 Safe school committee establishment; school safety plan participation; school policy development
Sec. 14. (a) Each school operated by a school corporation shall establish a safe school committee. Each committee may include at least one (1) member who is a member of the support staff of the school or school corporation career and technical education school.
(b) Each school operated by a charter school shall establish a safe school committee. A charter school in operation on July 1, 2023, shall comply with this subsection not later than July 1, 2024.
(c) The safe school committee shall actively participate in and assist with the development of the school safety plan.
(d) The office of school safety (as established by IC 10-19-3.5-4), the school corporation's or charter school's school safety specialist or specialists, and a school resource officer, if one (1) is employed by the school corporation or charter school, shall provide materials and guidelines to assist a safe school committee in developing a policy for a particular school that addresses the following issues:
(1) Implementation of the school safety plan.
(2) Addressing outside and internal threats to the physical safety of students, faculty, staff, and the public, including unsafe conditions, crime prevention, school violence, bullying and cyberbullying, criminal organization activity, child abuse and child sexual abuse, mental health and behavioral health, suicide awareness and prevention, violence prevention and training, situational awareness, and other issues that prevent the maintenance of a safe school.
(3) Addressing the professional development needs for faculty and staff to implement methods that decrease problems identified under subdivision (2).
(4) Identifying and implementing methods to encourage:
(A) involvement by the community, families, and students;
(B) development of relationships between students and school faculty and staff; and
(C) use of problem solving teams.
(5) Consideration of the effect of armed intruder drills on the safety and mental health of students, faculty, and staff.
(e) The guidelines developed under subsection (d) must include age appropriate, trauma informed, evidence based information (as defined in 34 U.S.C. 10554(4)) that assists school corporations or charter schools and safe school committees in:
(1) developing and implementing bullying and cyberbullying prevention programs;
(2) establishing investigation and reporting procedures related to bullying and cyberbullying; and
(3) adopting discipline rules that comply with IC 20-33-8-13.5.
(f) In addition to developing guidelines under subsection (d), the office of school safety, in consultation with the department of education, shall establish categories of types of bullying incidents to allow school corporations to use the categories in making reports under IC 20-34-6-1.
(g) The materials and guidelines provided under subsection (d) must include the model educational materials and model response policies and reporting procedures on child abuse and child sexual abuse developed or identified under IC 20-19-3-11.
As added by P.L.150-2023, SEC.15. Amended by P.L.135-2024, SEC.2; P.L.214-2025, SEC.6; P.L.238-2025, SEC.44; P.L.23-2026, SEC.68.
Ind. Code § 10-21-1-15 Accredited nonpublic schools
Sec. 15. An accredited nonpublic school may do one (1) or more of the following:
(1) Designate one (1) or more individuals to obtain school safety specialist certification under section 13 of this chapter to perform school safety specialist duties under this chapter.
(2) Establish a school safety plan in accordance with section 10 of this chapter.
(3) Establish a safe school committee.
(4) Submit a school safety plan to the county school safety commission having jurisdiction over the accredited nonpublic school.
(5) Request to join the county school safety commission having jurisdiction over the accredited nonpublic school or be represented by another accredited nonpublic school's school safety specialist on the same commission.
(6) Request general guidance relating to school safety matters from one (1) or more of the following:
(A) The board.
(B) The department of education.
(C) The office of school safety (as established by IC 10-19-3.5-4).
(D) The county school safety commission having jurisdiction over the accredited nonpublic school.
As added by P.L.150-2023, SEC.16. Amended by P.L.238-2025, SEC.45.
Ind. Code § 10-21-1-16 Grant application for specialized firearms training
Sec. 16. (a) A school corporation, charter school, or accredited nonpublic school may apply to the board for a grant from the fund to:
(1) increase school safety by:
(A) helping teachers, school staff, and school employees acquire specialized firearms instruction as described in IC 10-21-3; and
(B) defraying tuition related expenses for teachers, school staff, and school employees who wish to enroll in the course of firearms instruction described in IC 10-21-3; or
(2) provide funding in the event of a school shooting to cover the costs of counseling for students, teachers, school staff, and school employees.
(b) A school corporation, charter school, or accredited nonpublic school:
(1) is not subject to the restriction in section 4 of this chapter that a school corporation, charter school, or accredited nonpublic school may receive only one (1) matching grant each year; and
(2) may receive an additional matching grant under section 4 of this chapter for the purposes described in subsection (a).
As added by P.L.218-2023, SEC.1. Amended by P.L.238-2025, SEC.46.
Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://iga.in.gov/laws/2026/ic/titles/10Fetched: 10/17/2026