Funding programs

Grants for Online Safety and Web Filtering: Federal and State Programs

A program-by-program list for schools and libraries. For each one we give who can apply, what it pays for, and what its official source says about online safety or filtering costs. Where the source is silent, we say so and point you to the program office.

Federal education, justice and library grantsSelected state programsOfficial sources only
Last checked: November 2, 2026

How to read this list

This page is the detailed program list. If you want help planning the budget around these programs, such as which costs to put in the general fund and how to write the proposal, read our guide to funding school web filtering beyond E-Rate first. Here we stick to the programs themselves.

We only call a filtering or online safety cost allowable when the official source says so or clearly lists it. Grant rules are written for many uses, and a program can be a good fit for safety work while saying nothing about filters. In those cases we do not guess. We tell you to ask the program office, and we show what the program does list so you can frame the question.

Allowable: the official source says so Ask the program office Closed to new applicants

Amounts and deadlines are given only where the official page states them. Programs change with each budget and each notice of funding, so treat every entry as accurate on the date checked, then confirm with the agency.

First, what E-Rate will not pay for

E-Rate discounts internet access, data transmission and internal network equipment. CIPA makes a filter a condition of those discounts for internet access and Category Two services. But the discount cannot pay for the filter. The FCC said so in its 2001 order that put CIPA into effect:

"Thus, recipients may not receive universal service discounts for technology protection measures."

That is paragraph 55 of FCC 01-120. The FCC added that it has no power to change this, because the limit comes from the statute. So every school or library on E-Rate needs another way to pay for its filter. The rest of this page is about those other ways. For the E-Rate side, see E-Rate and CIPA funding and our FY2027 E-Rate CIPA calendar.

The two funding sources CIPA itself names

CIPA has a section titled "Availability of Certain Funds for Acquisition of Technology Protection Measures". It is section 1721(g) of the Act, and the U.S. Code prints it as a note under 20 U.S.C. 9134. As amended in 2015, it says:

"Notwithstanding any other provision of law, funds available under part B of title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, or under section 231 of the Library Services and Technology Act, may be used for the purchase or acquisition of technology protection measures that are necessary to meet the requirements of this title and the amendments made by this title. No other sources of funds for the purchase or acquisition of such measures are authorized by this title, or the amendments made by this title."

Two things follow from this text.

  • Section 231 of LSTA is the Grants to States program run by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). The law plainly lets that money buy a CIPA filter. It is the clearest federal source on this page for libraries.
  • Part B of title I of ESEA is, in today's code, the State Assessment Grants program. It pays state education agencies for testing work. It is not a grant a district applies for, so for most schools it is not a practical source. If you want to explore it, ask your state education agency.

The last sentence of the note means CIPA did not create any other funding for filters. It does not stop other programs from paying for one under their own rules. That is why the rest of this list checks each program's own text.

Federal library grants

LSTA Grants to States (IMLS)

Allowable: named in CIPA section 1721(g)
Who can apply
IMLS pays each State Library Administrative Agency by a population-based formula. The state library may run statewide services or make competitive subawards to public, academic, research, school or special libraries and consortia. For-profit and federal libraries are not eligible. A local library applies to its state library, not to IMLS.
What it pays for
Library services that match the purposes of LSTA and the state's five-year plan, including technology and digital literacy work. IMLS says more than $160 million is distributed among the state agencies every year.
Filtering
The law names this program as one that may buy CIPA technology protection measures. Whether your state offers a subgrant that covers a filter depends on the state's own plan and priorities. Ask your state library.
Official pages
IMLS Grants to States; state profiles

Native American Library Services: Basic Grants (IMLS)

Ask the program office
Who can apply
Federally recognized Native Communities that offer library or archival services to their community.
What it pays for
Establishing, sustaining and improving library services and operations. IMLS posted a FY2027 notice of funding opportunity for this program.
Filtering
The program page does not mention filtering, and CIPA section 1721(g) names only Grants to States among library programs. Ask the program office at [email protected].
Official page
Native American Library Services: Basic Grants

Federal education grants

Title IV, Part A: Student Support and Academic Enrichment (SSAE)

Ask the program office
Who can apply
School districts, through their state education agency, by formula. The U.S. Department of Education lists a total appropriation of $1,380,000,000 for fiscal year 2026.
What it pays for
Three areas: a well-rounded education, safe and healthy students, and the effective use of technology. The technology area can include "purchasing devices, equipment, and software applications in order to address readiness shortfalls", but no more than 15 percent of the technology funds may go to that kind of infrastructure.
Filtering
Neither the statute's lists of uses (20 U.S.C. 7118 and 7119) nor the Department's 2016 guidance names web filtering. Ask your state Title IV-A coordinator, and ask how the 15 percent cap would apply.
Official page
Student Support and Academic Enrichment Program

Rural Education Achievement Program (REAP): SRSA and RLIS

Ask the program office
Who can apply
Rural school districts that meet the program's tests. Eligibility uses school locale codes: 41, 42 and 43 for the Small, Rural School Achievement program (SRSA), and 32, 33, 41, 42 and 43 for the Rural and Low-Income School program (RLIS).
What it pays for
SRSA gives rural districts money for initiatives that improve student achievement. RLIS pays for activities authorized under Titles I to IV of ESEA and parental involvement. Both give small districts more freedom in how they use federal money.
Filtering
Not named on the program page. Because RLIS covers activities authorized under Titles I to IV, the Title IV-A questions above apply. Ask the REAP program office or your state coordinator.
Official page
Rural Education Achievement Program

Title II, Part A: Supporting Effective Instruction

Ask the program office
Who can apply
School districts, through their state education agency, by formula.
What it pays for
Professional development and support for teachers, principals and other staff. The statute's list of local uses includes professional development to "effectively integrate technology into curricula and instruction" and in-service training on "school conditions for student learning, such as safety".
Filtering
The program pays for people and training, not software. Staff training on online safety may fit the training uses, but the statute does not name it. Ask your state Title II-A coordinator.
Official source
20 U.S.C. 6613, local uses of funds

Federal justice and school safety grants

The STOP School Violence Act of 2018 funds two separate Justice Department programs. Neither lists web filtering among its uses, but both are often part of a school safety plan, so it helps to know where the lines are.

BJA STOP School Violence Program

Ask the program office
Who can apply
For FY2026: states and public institutions of higher education (Category 1); and local bodies including counties, cities, special district governments, federally recognized tribes, independent school districts, public charter schools, nonprofits and private K-12 schools (Category 2).
What it pays for
Training to prevent student violence, threat assessment and intervention teams, and technology such as anonymous reporting systems through apps, hotlines and websites. The FY2026 notice offered up to $111,145,913 in total, with Category 2 awards of up to $1,000,000 for 36 months starting January 1, 2027.
Filtering
Not among the listed uses. The notice says "Activities that go beyond the allowable uses of funding as described above will not be funded." Its third objective mentions "other technology solutions that will improve school safety", so ask the program office before you include any filtering cost.
Status
The FY2026 deadlines were October 30, 2026 (Grants.gov) and November 6, 2026 (JustGrants). BJA's page says that if you did not submit the first part in Grants.gov, you cannot apply in this round.
Official page
BJA FY2026 STOP School Violence Program

COPS School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP)

FY2026 round closed Ask the program office
Who can apply
States, local governments, tribes and their public agencies, including school districts and public charter schools. Individual schools that are not districts, and private schools, cannot apply as the main applicant.
What it pays for
Physical security and emergency response: law enforcement training, metal detectors, locks, lighting and other deterrents, and technology for faster notice to police in an emergency. FY2026 offered up to $73 million, with awards of up to $500,000 over three years and a local match of at least 25 percent. About $1 million was set aside for microgrants of up to $100,000 for school districts, including rural, tribal and low-resourced schools.
Filtering
Not among the listed purposes. The Director may fund "any other measure" that significantly improves security, so ask the program office if you think a case exists.
Status
The FY2026 opportunity closed on August 11, 2026.
Official page
COPS SVPP

Federal cybersecurity programs

FCC Schools and Libraries Cybersecurity Pilot Program

Allowable: on the Pilot eligible list Closed to new applicants
Who can apply
Only the schools, libraries and consortia the FCC selected. Selections were announced on January 16, 2025, and the Pilot Form 471 window ran from March 18 to September 15, 2025.
What it pays for
Up to $200 million over three years for cybersecurity services and equipment, run by USAC.
Filtering
The eligible services list in the FCC's Pilot order, FCC 24-63, includes "Content blocking and filtering/uniform resource locator (URL) filtering" and "Domain Name System (DNS)/DNS-layer security, blocking, and filtering". The same order says buying eligible services through the Pilot triggers CIPA.
Status
Participants file annual reports; USAC says the Part 3 reporting form starts in February 2027.
Official page
USAC Cybersecurity Pilot Program

DHS State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program (SLCGP)

Ask the program office
Who can apply
Only each state's State Administrative Agency. States must pass at least 80 percent of the money to local governments, with at least 25 percent going to rural areas. Local bodies receive subawards through the state.
What it pays for
Projects that address cybersecurity risks to information systems run by or for state, local, tribal and territorial governments, under each state's approved cybersecurity plan. Congress funded it with $1 billion over four years; the latest notice, for FY2025, came out in August 2025.
Filtering
Not mentioned on the program page. Whether a school district or library counts as an eligible local recipient, and whether filtering fits, depends on your state's plan. Ask your State Administrative Agency.
Official page
CISA: State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program

State programs we could verify

States fund schools and libraries in very different ways, so a full list is not possible on one page. Below is a careful selection of state programs whose rules we could read on official state websites. Three name online safety or filtering technology. The others are broad technology or security programs where a filter may or may not fit. If your state is not here, check your state education agency, state library and school safety center.

Programs that name filtering or online safety technology

Texas: Instructional Materials and Technology Allotment (IMTA)

Allowable: the official source lists internet filtering
Who can apply
Each school district and open-enrollment charter school receives an allotment from the Texas Education Agency (TEA).
What it pays for
Instructional materials, technology equipment, technology services and related costs. For the 2026 and 2027 fiscal years, TEA's letter of July 17, 2025 sets a per-student instructional materials allotment of $174.69. TEA says funds not used during a biennium carry over to the next.
Filtering
TEA's list of allowable technology services includes "Inventory software or systems for storing, managing, and accessing instructional materials (e.g., learning management systems, internet filtering, etc.)". TEA says districts can submit an Allotment Disbursement Request if they have questions about an expense.
Official pages
TEA instructional materials funding; IMTA letter for fiscal years 2026 and 2027

Michigan: Section 31aa school safety funding (FY2027)

Allowable: student safety management systems Web filtering: ask the program office
Who can apply
Districts, intermediate districts, nonpublic schools and the Michigan School for the Deaf. Schools opt in through the Michigan Department of Education (MDE).
What it pays for
Section 31aa(2) funds mental health and 31aa(3) funds school safety, both paid per pupil. MDE's FY2027 FAQ gives a cap of $147.06 per pupil for subsection 3.
Online safety technology
MDE's FY2027 table of allowable uses marks a "Student safety management system" as allowable under 31aa(3). The FAQ describes it as "the information technology platform and related services to improve student safety by mitigating cyberbullying, school violence, human trafficking, and self-harm". Web filtering is not named, so ask MDE before you count on it.
Status
Open. Application windows close at 5 p.m. ET on November 9 and December 7, 2026, and January 4 and April 12, 2027. MDE says the November date may be adjusted. Expense reports are due July 1, 2027.
Official sources
Allowable uses of Section 31aa funds, FY2027; Section 31aa FAQ, FY2027

Indiana: Secured School Safety Grant (FY2027)

Allowable: student safety management technology FY2027 round closed
Who can apply
School corporations, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools and coalitions of school corporations applying jointly. It is a matching grant run by the Indiana Department of Homeland Security.
What it pays for
School resource officers, security equipment, training, threat assessments and other safety items listed in the notice. Schools may apply for up to $100,000, with a local match. The notice says the General Assembly allocated $27.1 million for FY2026 and FY2027.
Online safety technology
The FY2027 notice lists "Purchase student safety management technology" as a use, and gives the example "Provide student safety management technology to improve student safety by mitigating cyberbullying, school violence, human trafficking and self-harm". Web filtering is not named, so ask the program office.
Status
Applications were due June 30, 2026. The performance period is September 1, 2026 to August 31, 2027.
Official pages
Secured School Safety Grant; FY2027 notice of funding opportunity

Broad technology and security programs where filtering is not named

Pennsylvania: 2026-27 School Safety and Mental Health Grants

Ask the program office 2026-27 round closed
Who can apply
School districts, area career and technical schools, intermediate units, and charter, regional charter and cyber charter schools. Nonpublic schools are directed to a separate program. The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) runs it.
What it pays for
The eligible activities in state law, including "Security planning and purchase of security-related technology" and "Establishing, enhancing or promoting cybersecurity measures". The 2026-27 round offered $138,779,000 by formula, for projects from July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2028.
Filtering
Not named. PCCD's Q&A says a school entity that meets all Level 1 physical security baseline criteria can request cybersecurity funding, and that PCCD "does not maintain a pre-approved or pre-disallowed list of specific software products." The announcement adds that cybersecurity items currently funded by E-Rate may not be funded with this grant. Ask PCCD how a filter would be treated.
Status
The application deadline was October 16, 2026.
Official pages
PCCD school safety and security; 2026-27 funding announcement; Q&A

New York: Smart Schools Bond Act

Ask the program office
Who can apply
School districts, through a Smart Schools Investment Plan that the State Education Department (NYSED) must approve before any money is spent. Some items are loaned to nonpublic schools.
What it pays for
Capital technology and infrastructure. The School Connectivity list includes items such as "Firewalls/security appliances".
Filtering
Not named. NYSED's policy says: "The following costs are NOT eligible for Smart Schools: subscription fees, product or equipment leases, professional development, software or applications (other than those necessary to operate SSBA-funded hardware optimally,) fees or other administrative costs." A filter sold as a subscription would meet that rule. Ask NYSED about any specific item.
Official pages
Smart Schools Bond Act; hardware, software, license and fees policy

Utah: Community Library Enhancement Fund (CLEF)

Ask the program office
Who can apply
Qualified and certified Utah public libraries. The Utah State Library calculates the amounts each year.
What it pays for
Collections, programming and "Technology That Directly Affects The Public (such as public access computing, library catalogs, online resources, technology training, wifi)". Technology that is solely for staff use is not eligible. From 2026, the State Library announces amounts in May and pays 90 percent in July.
Filtering
Not named as a use. Note that Utah law ties state money to filtering: under Utah Code 9-7-215, "State funds may not be provided to any public library that provides public access to the internet unless the library" has an internet safety policy for minors that includes a technology protection measure. Ask the State Library whether a filter on public computers counts as public-access technology.
Official pages
Community Library Enhancement Fund; CLEF eligible expenditures; Utah Code 9-7-215

Missouri: LSTA Technology Mini-Grant and Technology Ladder Grant

Ask the program office
Who can apply
Qualified Missouri public libraries, through the Missouri State Library. Both grants use federal LSTA money.
What it pays for
The Mini-Grant is for libraries "needing to replace, upgrade, or add new equipment or software". The Ladder grant is for "technology hardware, software and website development".
Filtering
Not named as a use. The State Library notes that, when CIPA applies, "a grant recipient must certify that it has a policy of Internet safety that includes the operation of a technology protection measure (filter)". Because these grants use LSTA money, federal law allows that money to buy a CIPA filter (see above), but the state sets each grant's own rules. Ask the State Library.
Status
The state fiscal year 2027 schedule shows Mini-Grant applications due October 1, 2026, and Technology Ladder applications due April 1, 2027, with funding for the longer grants marked "FFY27 Funding, TBD".
Official pages
Missouri State Library LSTA grants; FY2027 grant schedule

California: LSTA Digital Literacy and Access (2026-27)

Allowable: internet safety classes Filtering: ask the program office Closed
Who can apply
California public libraries and nonprofit groups that support them, such as Friends groups and library cooperative systems.
What it pays for
Digital navigation, digital literacy classes, and "AI and/or internet safety classes or programs for library users", with staff time, supplies and devices. The 2026-27 round had $250,000 in total, for work from September 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.
Filtering
Not named. The program says device purchases must comply with CIPA. Ask the California State Library.
Status
Closed. Applications were due June 3, 2026.
Official pages
2026-2027 LSTA Digital Literacy and Access; State Library CIPA guidance

CIPA rules that come with grant money

Some grants carry their own internet safety rules, separate from E-Rate. They matter most for a school or library that does not take E-Rate discounts.

  • LSTA money in libraries. Under 20 U.S.C. 9134(f), a public library or public school library that does not receive E-Rate discounts may not use LSTA funds to buy computers used to access the internet, or to pay direct internet access costs, unless it has an internet safety policy with a filter for minors and adults. IMLS collects an Internet Safety Certification for this.
  • Title IV-A money in schools. Under 20 U.S.C. 7131, a school that does not receive E-Rate discounts may not use Title IV-A funds for computers used to access the internet, or for direct internet access costs, unless it has an internet safety policy and a working filter. The district certifies this each year.
  • The FCC Cybersecurity Pilot. The FCC said CIPA applies to purchases made through the Pilot.

The practical point: if you use these grants for devices or connections, your filter and policy may need to be in place for the grant as well as for E-Rate. Our CIPA compliance checklist covers the policy and records.

Summary table

Status is as shown on each official page on November 2, 2026.

ProgramWho appliesFiltering or online safetyStatus
E-Rate (FCC, USAC)Schools, libraries, consortiaFilter not discounted (FCC 01-120)FY2027 cycle under way
LSTA Grants to States (IMLS)Libraries, through the state libraryAllowable named in CIPA 1721(g)Annual formula funds
Native American Library Services: BasicFederally recognized Native CommunitiesAskFY2027 notice posted
Title IV, Part A (SSAE)Districts, through the stateAsk 15% cap on technology infrastructureAnnual formula funds
REAP: SRSA and RLISEligible rural districtsAskAnnual formula funds
Title II, Part ADistricts, through the stateAsk training onlyAnnual formula funds
BJA STOP School ViolenceStates, local bodies, districts, nonprofitsAsk not a listed useFY2026 deadlines Oct 30 and Nov 6, 2026
COPS SVPPStates, local governments, districtsAsk not a listed purposeFY2026 closed Aug 11, 2026
FCC Cybersecurity PilotSelected participants onlyAllowable on the Pilot listClosed to new applicants
DHS SLCGPStates, passing funds to local bodiesAskLatest notice: FY2025
Texas IMTADistricts and open-enrollment chartersAllowable internet filtering listed2026-27 biennium allotment
Michigan Section 31aa(3)Districts, ISDs, nonpublic schoolsAllowable safety management systems; filtering: askOpen; windows to April 12, 2027
Indiana Secured School Safety GrantSchool corporations, charter and nonpublic schoolsAllowable safety management technology; filtering: askFY2027 closed June 30, 2026
Pennsylvania School Safety and Mental HealthDistricts, IUs, CTCs, charter schoolsAskClosed Oct 16, 2026
New York Smart Schools Bond ActDistrictsAsk subscriptions not eligiblePlan approvals ongoing
Utah CLEFCertified public librariesAskAmounts announced each May
Missouri LSTA technology grantsPublic librariesAskLadder due April 1, 2027
California LSTA Digital Literacy and AccessPublic libraries and support groupsAllowable safety classes; filtering: askClosed June 3, 2026

Online safety grants: frequently asked questions

Can E-Rate pay for a school or library web filter?

No. In its 2001 CIPA order the FCC said that recipients may not receive universal service discounts for technology protection measures. CIPA still requires the filter for E-Rate discounts on internet access and Category Two services, so the filter has to be paid from other funds.

Which federal grant most clearly allows a web filter?

LSTA Grants to States. CIPA section 1721(g) says funds under section 231 of the Library Services and Technology Act may be used to buy the technology protection measures CIPA requires. Libraries apply to their state library, which decides which projects it funds.

Can Title IV-A money pay for web filtering?

The statute and the Department of Education's 2016 guidance do not name web filtering. The technology area can pay for devices, equipment and software applications, but no more than 15 percent of the technology funds may go to that infrastructure. Ask your state Title IV-A coordinator.

Can the STOP School Violence Program pay for a filter?

Filtering is not among the uses listed in the FY2026 notice, which says activities beyond the allowable uses will not be funded. Its technology objective mentions anonymous reporting tools and other technology solutions that improve school safety, so ask BJA before including a filtering cost.

Can we still join the FCC Cybersecurity Pilot?

No. The FCC announced the selected participants on January 16, 2025, and the Pilot Form 471 window closed on September 15, 2025. For the selected participants, the Pilot eligible list includes content blocking and URL filtering, and CIPA applies to Pilot purchases.

Do grants come with their own CIPA rules?

Some do. A public library or school library without E-Rate discounts that uses LSTA money for internet computers or internet access needs an internet safety policy and filter under 20 U.S.C. 9134(f). A school without E-Rate discounts that uses Title IV-A money that way has the same duty under 20 U.S.C. 7131.

Are there state grants that pay for web filtering?

Some. Texas lists internet filtering among the allowable technology services under its Instructional Materials and Technology Allotment. Michigan and Indiana list student safety management technology in their school safety funding. Most other state programs we checked do not name filtering, so ask the program office.

Why does this page say ask the program office so often?

Because we only call a cost allowable when the official source says so or clearly lists it. Many programs fit school safety or technology work without naming filters. The program office is the only reliable source for a ruling on your project.

Sources

All checked on November 2, 2026. Program rules, amounts and deadlines change with each budget and each notice. Confirm with the agency before you apply or spend. This guide is general information, not legal or grant advice.

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