NPSE

Your NPSE safety funds expire December 31, 2026.

New York private schools have formula-allocated safety money waiting — and the purchase window closes December 31, 2026, with claims due January 14, 2027. If your school hasn’t used its allocation, there is still time, but not much.

December 31, 2026 — Last day to complete eligible purchases. January 14, 2027 — Last day to submit claims. Both dates are fixed by NYSED. After January 14, unclaimed funds do not carry forward in this cycle. Earlier gate: if a school wants an item not on the eligible list, NPSE pre-approval by email is due no later than Dec 1, 2026, and pre-pooling forms are due by Dec 1, 2026.

What NPSE is

NPSE — Nonpublic School Safety Equipment — is New York State’s safety fund for private schools. It is not a competitive grant: every eligible school (currently open P-12 religious and independent nonprofits with a valid OSC Vendor ID) has an allocation computed from enrollment. No application is needed to be allocated the money — but you must spend it on eligible items and file a claim to be reimbursed. For funding programs beyond NPSE, see our Funding page.

What qualifies — Eligible categories, from NYSED’s list:

• Security cameras and recording
• Alarms
• Door hardening
• Visitor intercoms and ID badges
• Cybersecurity software
• Student-location software
• Safety assessments
• Building mapping
• Safety training
• Contracted security personnel
• Panic buttons
• Parent notification systems
• PA systems
• Walkie-talkies
• AEDs and health items
• Repair and maintenance of health and safety systems

Too busy to submit the claim?

We can do it for you! W will find your school’s allocation, go over eligible spendings, or recommend eligible services that benefit your school, and prepare and submit your reimbursement claim. This submission help is part of our consulting work.

Only $499 per school for the submission!
Or FREE if your school partners with School Upgrades to implement some of the eligible services.

Note: the $499 help fee itself is not reimbursable under NPSE. Place an order with School Upgrades, and the fee is waived entirely.

Eligible services are matched to your building, budget, and allocation — from the categories listed above. The specific service and price are confirmed in writing before you purchase anything.

How it works

1. You contact us with your school’s name. (Same day.)
2. We confirm your Y11–13 allocation and send eligible options that fit it. (1–2 business days.)
3. You approve a purchase; the purchase is completed by December 31, 2026.
4. We file the claim by January 14, 2027.

What we need from you

School name; a contact person (head of school or business manager); your OSC Vendor ID if you have it handy (we can help if you don’t); and a rough sense of your building’s safety priorities.

Questions administrators ask

Do we have to apply to get NPSE money? No. Allocation is automatic and formula-driven; the work is spending it on eligible items and filing the claim.

What if we already spent money on safety this year? Purchases in the eligibility window may still be claimable; contact us and we’ll check.

Is the $499 fee reimbursable? No, and we say so upfront. It is waived if you order an eligible service through us.

What if our allocation is small? Small allocations still buy real items (important repairs, panic buttons, radios, new cameras). We’ll tell you honestly what yours covers.

Who decides whether a claim is paid? NYSED. We prepare the claim carefully; we do not guarantee reimbursement.

The purchase deadline is December 31, 2026.

Every week of delay is a week less to choose, order, install, and file. Start with a free allocation check.

Physical work, handled too — School Upgrades

School Upgrades carries out eligible safety and building work for nonpublic schools, including:

• Security cameras, recording systems, and access control
• Door hardening, including door and hardware replacement and security film
• Secured building entrances, metal detectors, and visitor management
• Building repair and remediation, including roofing, masonry, HVAC, plumbing, and accessibility work

NPSE submission help: the $499 NPSE submission-help fee is waived when a school contracts School Upgrades for its NPSE work. The $499 fee itself is not reimbursable under NPSE.

Important: Edtechtonics’ advice is independent. Schools are free to use any vendor for their NPSE work, and no reimbursement is guaranteed — approval is NYSED’s decision.

Check your school’s allocation — free

Edtechtonics is not affiliated with NYSED. Program rules, deadlines, and eligibility are set by NYSED’s Office of Religious and Independent School Support (ORISS).