Jason M. Stoddard’s Post

A new UChicago Consortium on School Research analysis finds that Chicago Public schools that fully removed SROs saw a slight drop in serious, high-level discipline violations. As we move to a districtwide policy of implementing Whole School Safety, it's important to remember and reflect on why COFI - POWER-PAC IL parents have been fighting against unnecessary punitive discipline policies -- it's harmful to our children and criminalizes low-income youth of color. That's why we're working to make sure the district's new policy shifts more support toward physical safety, emotional safety, and relational trust in schools!! https://lnkd.in/gX64dExc

The Role of School Resource Officers: Enhancing Safety or Raising Concerns? The presence of School Resource Officers (SROs) in educational institutions is a growing topic of debate. RAND Corporation analysis dives deep into the impact of SROs on school safety, offering a balanced perspective on their potential benefits and challenges. Key takeaways include: ➡️ Enhanced Security: SROs are often seen as a proactive measure to prevent and respond to incidents like violence, bullying, or drug-related issues. ➡️ Building Trust: When implemented effectively, SROs can foster positive relationships with students, acting as mentors and role models. ➡️ Concerns of Over-Policing: Critics argue that the presence of law enforcement in schools could lead to the criminalization of minor disciplinary issues and disproportionately affect marginalized students. As communities continue to evaluate school safety strategies, it’s crucial to balance security needs with an inclusive approach that prioritizes education and student well-being.

Some Connecticut schools are adopting restorative practices to address student behavioral issues, aiming to keep students in class and reduce suspensions and expulsions. This approach involves understanding the reasons behind misbehavior and engaging students in corrective actions, such as repairing challenges, rather than resorting to exclusionary discipline. As expulsion and juvenile defense attorneys, Forte Law Group applauds school districts for taking this restorative approach.

Young students of color are disproportionately affected by policing inside schools. Once a mistake happens, are schools welcoming the student with open arms or are schools surveilling the student until they make another mistake? In theory, suspensions & expulsions exist to help maintain a safe school culture. However, we’re finding in community stories that the opposite is happening. More concerningly, these practices are harming the life outcomes of our students. “In an effort to promote school safety, school systems often utilize a system of surveillance where students are treated as perpetual suspects who must be constantly watched because they are searching for an opportunity to commit some type of offense” (DJEC, Suspensions & Expulsions, 2024). “One young man noted that his school essentially put him under perpetual surveillance after he had gotten in trouble for fighting with a faculty member” (DJEC, Suspensions & Expulsions, 2024). Read more: https://lnkd.in/gW5_sNwA #DJEC #DenverEducation #StudentVoice

The Chicago Board of Education voted to remove School Resource Officers (#SROs) - Chicago Police - from city schools. This move was backed by the Chicago Teachers Union. How long before "buyer's remorse" sets in from this decision? #Schoolleaders only need to look to Denver and many other cities that pulled SROs from schools after the George Floyd murder. Many are struggling to return them back into schools as #schoolsecurity problems steadily increase and #teachers, #principals, #parents, and #students become increasingly frustrated. #Schoolsafety best practices need to be prioritized over political decisions.

Equitable access to education is a human right & policing impedes access. Edmonton Public Schools, Trustee Marsha Nelson, reinstating a police in school program regardless of reforms is a human rights violation. It is contradictory to your own board policies and is gross negligence. There is no evidence to support the notion that police-in-school programs make schools safer. Thriving and healthy communities including educational spaces which in and of themselves are safe have more supports and resources. What we need are properly funded and resourced educational spaces. #PolicingFreeSchools #EPSB #Alberta #Edmonton #YEG https://lnkd.in/e7ZaF3r5

🤔 Rethinking School Safety: The Role of Police Officers in Schools 🎒 In 1975, only 1% of public schools had police officers. Today, that figure has grown to 44%. This increase can be attributed to events like the Columbine tragedy and the passing of the 1994 Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act. But are police officers in schools truly the best solution for student safety? Research indicates that school resource officers (SROs) might not be as effective as once believed. Here are 5 reasons why: 1️⃣ Root Problems Remain Unaddressed: While SROs are often seen as a deterrent to violence, they cannot address underlying issues like mental health, behavioral problems, and family struggles. Social workers and therapists are often better equipped to handle these challenges. 2️⃣ Role Confusion: The role of SROs varies from school to school, and without clear guidelines, their presence can be less effective. Schools should define their role clearly and focus on relationship-building and conflict resolution. 3️⃣ Perception of Safety: Research shows that students often feel less safe over time with increased contact with SROs. This can lead to disengagement and absenteeism, especially if students associate SROs with punishment rather than protection. 4️⃣ School-to-Prison Pipeline: Studies show that schools with SROs are more likely to report minor misbehaviors to law enforcement, contributing to the school-to-prison pipeline. This disproportionately affects Black and Hispanic students, leading to long-term negative consequences. 5️⃣ Infringement on Student Rights: The presence of SROs has been linked to violations of students' constitutional rights, including unlawful searches and seizures. To address school safety more effectively, experts recommend alternatives such as investing in mental health support, better defining the roles of SROs, and providing officers with specialized training in de-escalation and child development. What’s your perspective? Do you believe that the presence of police officers in schools enhances safety, or are there better strategies for protecting our students? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments. #SchoolSafety #EducationReform #SaferCleveland #CommunityBuilding #MentalHealthSupport 🖤

Two weeks away! At "Police, Mental Health Practitioners, and Safety Professionals on School Violence," two counselors, a police officer, and George Washington University's Director of Emergency Management make up the panel, one of nine panel discussions offered at this year's Summer Institute on Education, Equity, and Justice (SIEEJ). "Ending Violence in PreK-16 Schools" is the theme of our 7th annual 3-day SIEEJ #event, taking place from June 24-26. Register today at at bit.ly/SIEEJ2024 and for the low price of only $40 for three days of programming. More on "Police, Mental Health Practitioners, and Safety Professionals on School Violence" PreK-12 schools and university campuses serve as hubs of learning, growth, and community for students and faculty. In an era marked by concerns about school violence, ensuring the safety and well-being of all individuals within the academic environment is a top priority. This panel discussion convenes experienced professionals from university campus safety, mental health departments, and police departments to share their expertise, insights, strategies and best practices for addressing school violence on university campuses while upholding the core principles and values of education, safety and security. American University #education #teachers #students #schools #classrooms #policy #violence #mentalhealth #safety

This was an interesting article I found on USA Today. They make some very good points for parents to think about regarding school safety. ShieldCampus is helping schools manage many of the issues brought up in this article... https://lnkd.in/eQBNHj3s #schoolsafety #mentalhealth #ShieldCampus

#ThankYou Superintendent, Dep. Superintendent, and school police protecting students, and all others developing and implementing this action plan to keep our kids alive. Every second counts when it comes to child and student safety. Los Angeles parents appreciate you. Why are LAUSD Board of Education members competing with Beverly Hills muggings and follow home robberies or LA Metro busses and trains to be the unsafest places in Los Angeles? Office of California Governor Gavin Newsom/U.S. Department of Education/The White House President Biden/Senator Alex Padilla/Senator Laphonza Butler: Do parents have to send their innocent children to school with mace or take other protective measures to prevent an attack? Can you do anything to protect our kids - like immediate school transfers to safer locations, expediting housing vouchers that include school age kids to access safer schools, federalize the California National Guard and send them to these schools like for the Little Rock 9, a CHP taskforce, a phone call to the board of education to prioritize student safety? Anything? Or are kids in Los Angeles not worth your attention and action? The anti-child-safety proponents do not speak for the parents of children attending schools in Los Angeles. They do not care or pay for needed children's safety and security. They do not sit in the hospital next to victims of crime. They don't declare bankruptcy for unpaid medical bills from a violent attack. They don't contribute to the end-of-life costs and healing, like for the Manual Arts High School student and her family. And they are funded in part by the same group whose members, sitting happily in retirement without worry, in decades past contributed to child criminalization through the incessant calling for the police from their classroom telephones (check the telephone logs). This current crisis requires a proportionate response. It appears like this was a comprehensive thought-out approach with mental health and counseling staff to prevent innocent children falling victim to pedophiles, kidnappers, criminals, neighborhood terrorists, and addictive-substances peddlers. Weaponizing preventable harm against innocent children as part of a political ploy is unconscionable. If the LA School Board doesn't care about student safety, why should parents send their kids to any of these 20 unsafe schools? LA School Board member egos can recover but a dead child cannot be resuscitated. If any student at these 20 schools suffers harm, the LA School Board members that prevented secure schools with available resources should be held professionally and individually responsible in any forthcoming legal actions. cc: Los Angeles Times Howard Blume Miles Corwin's courageous journalistic spirit KCAL News NBC Los Angeles KTLA ABC7 Los Angeles FOX 11 Los Angeles - KTTV https://lnkd.in/gvP97H3S