SRO Funding Protection Act of 2025

The School Resource Officer Funding Protection Act of 2025 would add a new requirement to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) that states must maintain a certain level of funding for school resource officer (SRO) programs in both elementary and secondary schools in order to receive the total amount of funds they are eligible for under ESEA programs. The minimum funding floor is the greater of two amounts: (1) the amount the state spent on SRO programs in the most recent fiscal year in which the state met current requirements (or complied with the new law), or (2) the average annual SRO funding for the five fiscal years preceding the year in question. States would annually certify compliance to the Secretary of Education, including a public report with funding levels and the number of SROs. If a state fails to meet the requirement and does not obtain a waiver, the following year’s federal funding would be reduced proportionally to reflect the shortfall. The waiver process is available for extraordinary financial circumstances such as a significant economic downturn or natural disaster. The term “school resource officer” is defined by reference to the long-standing law enforcement protections in 34 U.S.C. 10389. In short, if enacted, the bill conditions federal ESEA funding on maintaining a minimum level of state funding for SRO programs, with annual reporting and potential reductions in federal funds for noncompliance, unless a specific waiver is granted.