SRO Funding Protection Act of 2025

This bill amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to require states to maintain funding for school resource officer programs in elementary and secondary schools. It adds a new section (8549D) to the Act. Sec. 8549D(a), Funding maintenance requirement: A state educational agency can receive its full eligible funds under the Act only if it maintains funding for school resource officer programs at a level not less than the greater of the amount spent in the most recent fiscal year before the agency either did not receive a waiver or complied with this section, or the average annual amount spent over the five preceding fiscal years. Sec. 8549D(b), Report: Each state agency must annually submit to the Secretary of Education a certification of compliance, including a public report detailing state funding for school resource officer programs and the number of school resource officers working in those schools for the current and five preceding fiscal years. Sec. 8549D(c), Noncompliance: If a state agency fails to meet the maintenance requirement and does not receive a waiver, the Secretary must reduce the agency's eligible funds for the following fiscal year by an amount proportional to the shortfall in state funding compared to the most recent compliant year. Sec. 8549D(d), Waiver: The Secretary may waive the requirement if a state agency demonstrates extraordinary financial circumstances, such as a significant economic downturn or natural disaster, caused a reduction in funding for school resource officer programs. Sec. 8549D(e), Definition: The term 'school resource officer' is defined by reference to section 1709 of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968.