Applying for Safety Net Funding

Safety net funding is available to school districts with a demonstrated capacity for Special Education funding in excess of state and federal funding otherwise provided.

The Safety Net Funding Bulletin, which contains information about allocated funding, the application process, trainings, deadlines, committee members, and more will be published soon.

Quarterly Payments

Quarterly payment request due date: September 30, 2026.

OSPI has developed guidance outlining the new Safety Net quarterly payment process beginning with the 2026–27 application cycle. The document includes eligibility requirements, timelines, LEA responsibilities, and important information regarding financial risk and application submission requirements. Please review the guidance carefully and contact the Safety Net team with any questions.

• Download Safety Net Quarterly Payment Guidance
• Download Safety Net Quarterly Student Request Form
• Download Safety Net Preliminary Worksheet A - updated 9/9/26
• Submit Safety Net Quarterly Payment Request Smartsheet Form - due September 30
   

EGMS Applications

The Safety Net application is available in the Education Grants Management System (EGMS).

• Log into EGMS here
  • Announcement FP 300 Safety Net: High Need Individual (26–27):  Coming soon!
• Download the Application User Guide
• Download the Naming Conventions Guide

Upload Templates

• Worksheet C Student Overview Upload Template - used to upload new students into the Worksheet C Student Overview form in the EGMS application.
• Worksheet C Student IEP Upload Template - used to load staff members into student records for the regular school year on the Worksheet C IEP Staff and Other Staff Costs form in the EGMS application.
• Worksheet C Student ESY Upload Template - used to load staff members into student records for ESY on the Worksheet C ESY Staff and Other Staff Costs form in the EGMS application. 
• Worksheet C Staff Upload Template - used to upload staff that will be included on Safety Net applications into the EGMS system. When staff are added using this upload template, users will be able to manually add the staff to student records.

Other Application Templates

• Worksheet A (including reconciliation) - coming soon!
• Medicaid Reimbursement Calculator - coming soon!
• Medicaid Provider Eligibility Verification
• 1:1 Contracted Provider Template - coming soon!
• Transportation Cost Calculator - coming soon!

Please note: Recorded trainings linked below remain useful resources; however, unless a training specifically indicates it has been updated for the 2025–26 school year, it has not yet been revised. Updated versions will be published as soon as they become available.

Safety Net High-Need Individual EGMS Application Walkthrough

This video walkthrough details how to apply for High-Need Individual Safety Net applications in EGMS. 

Safety Net High-Need Individual EGMS Application Walkthrough 2025–26

Safety Net Overview Recorded Training

This video covers the basics about Safety Net and does not go into detail about how to apply through EGMS. 

Safety Net Overview Training 2025–26

Safety Net Application Mini-Tutorial Videos

The following mini-tutorial videos are available on YouTube:

• Worksheet A
• Worksheet C - Student Overview
• Worksheet C - Associating Staff Information (IEP and ESY)
• Worksheet C - IEP 
• Worksheet C - ESY
• Worksheet C - Summary
• High Need Safety Net Certification
• 2021–22 High School and Beyond Plan (HSBP) and Safety Net Mini Training Video | 2021–22 HSBP & Safety Net Training Slides

Safety Net Materials

• 2025–26 Threshold Calculation
• Threshold Calculation Methodology
• Q&A: Safety Net Funding for Services Provided in Out-of-District Placements
• Medicaid Provider Eligibility Verification form
• Computing Annualized Caseload
• Splitting Weeks Between Multiple Providers
• Safety Net Rules
• IEP Review Form (revised 09/2021)
• MAG Quick Check Handout

Please note: Some of these examples include redacted IEP matrices that were provided by a local district. We are in no way endorsing how information is reported on the matrices but merely using the example to show how we would report the information on Worksheet C.

Past Application Summaries

• 2024–25 Safety Net Application Summary (posted November 2025)
• 2023–24 Safety Net Application Summary (posted February 2025)
• 2022–23 Safety Net Application Summary (posted September 2023)
• 2021–22 Safety Net Application Summary (posted September 2022)
• 2020–21 Safety Net Application Summary (posted September 2021)
• 2019–20 Safety Net Application Summary (posted September 2021)