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# Florida expands school security drone program with more than $1.1 million in funding
- URL: https://tampa-bay-disaster-preparedness-news.ghost.io/florida-expands-school-security-drone-program-with-more-than-1-1-million-in-funding/
- Published: 2026-07-30T03:13:13.000Z
- Updated: 2026-07-30T03:13:13.000Z
- Description: Three Florida high schools are testing remotely operated drones designed to help law enforcement respond more quickly during active shooter emergencies.
- Author: Chris Thomas
- Tags: News, active-shooter-incidents

Florida is investing more than **$1.1 million** over two years in a pilot program testing nonlethal security drones designed to respond to active shooter incidents at public schools.

**Why it matters:** Supporters say the technology could shorten response times during school emergencies. Critics say the system has not yet been tested during a real active shooter event.

**The latest:**

- Florida lawmakers approved **$564,500** in the 2026-27 state budget for the Campus Guardian Angel program.
- The funding follows **$557,000** approved last year, bringing the state's total investment to more than **$1.1 million**.
- The Florida Department of Education has not announced whether the new funding will expand the program to additional school districts.

**Schools participating in the pilot:**

- **Deltona High School** in Volusia County.
- **Boyd H. Anderson High School** in Broward County.
- **Amos P. Godby High School** in Leon County.

**How the system works:**

- Schools are equipped with **30 to 60 drones**, depending on campus size.
- The drones are stored in ceiling-mounted stations and would deploy during an emergency.
- Each drone carries live cameras, flashing lights, a speaker and a nonlethal pepper spray device.
- Operators can pilot the drones remotely, potentially from hundreds of miles away.

**Response goals:**  
According to Campus Guardian Angel, the system is designed to:

- Launch within **five seconds**.
- Reach a suspected shooter in **15 seconds**.
- Distract or incapacitate the suspect within **60 seconds**.

**The debate:**  
Supporters argue faster situational awareness could help first responders and save lives during rapidly unfolding attacks. The company says it is working with the University of Florida on an independent study comparing drone response times with traditional law enforcement.

Critics note the technology has only been demonstrated in simulations and has **not been used during an actual active shooter incident**, leaving questions about its real-world effectiveness.

**Bottom line:** Florida is among the first states to test security drones as part of school safety. Whether the technology becomes more widely adopted will likely depend on the results of the pilot program and future evaluations of its performance during emergencies.