Bill Overview
Title: School and Daycare Protection Act
Description: This bill establishes in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) a council to ensure the coordination of activities, plans, and policies to enhance the security of early childhood education programs and schools against acts of terrorism and other homeland security threats. DHS must participate in federal efforts to maintain and publicize a clearinghouse of resources available to early childhood education programs, elementary schools, and secondary schools to enhance security against such threats. Further, DHS must report by January 30, 2023, and annually thereafter, to the congressional homeland security committees on (1) DHS activities, plans, and policies aimed at enhancing security; (2) the council's activities and contributions of DHS to federal efforts to maintain and publicize the clearinghouse; and (3) any metrics regarding the efficacy of such activities and contributions, and any engagement with stakeholders outside of the federal government.
Sponsors: Rep. Payne, Donald M., Jr. [D-NJ-10]
Target Audience
Population: People associated with early childhood education and schools
Estimated Size: 60000000
- The bill focuses on enhancing security for early childhood education programs, elementary schools, and secondary schools against acts of terrorism and other threats.
- According to UNESCO and various global statistics, the number of children enrolled in primary and secondary education globally is approximately 1 billion.
- In the US, based on National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) data, there are about 56 million K-12 students.
- Adding the early childhood programs, this number increases further.
Reasoning
- The policy aims to enhance security for children and staff in educational institutions, a population of about 60 million individuals in the US.
- A large number of individuals within this population may not see direct changes in their wellbeing scores immediately, as the policy focuses on preventing potential threats.
- The budget is substantial, but with a target population this large, the direct effect might seem modest for individuals unless a direct impact is experienced.
- Considering various perspectives, from parents of young children to high school students and educational staff, to gauge a diverse range of impacts.
Simulated Interviews
Kindergarten Teacher (Austin, TX)
Age: 38 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- As a teacher, any improvement in security offers peace of mind, but I am concerned about implementation and potential disruptions.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
High School Student (Newark, NJ)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 18/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy sounds good, but until I see changes in my school, it's hard to feel different about how safe I am.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Parent (Des Moines, IA)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm glad there is a focus on security; however, I hope there will be transparency about how measures are applied.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
School Administrator (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Having resources can help, but the policy's success will depend on local execution and collaboration.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Daycare Provider (Seattle, WA)
Age: 23 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Our center could benefit from added resources, especially in training for emergencies.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Parent & Local Business Owner (Chicago, IL)
Age: 41 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 17/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope the policy includes awareness programs for parents about safety measures.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Retired, Former School Security Officer (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 62 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's good to see attention towards school safety, but I have doubts about long-term funding.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Teacher (Nashville, TN)
Age: 34 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Security is crucial but needs balance with student mental health measures.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
School Counselor (Miami, FL)
Age: 47 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy must ensure that security measures do not induce anxiety among students.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
College Freshman (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 19 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 19/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's critical that these measures translate to actual feelings of safety for students.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $100000000 (Low: $75000000, High: $125000000)
Year 2: $105000000 (Low: $78750000, High: $131250000)
Year 3: $110250000 (Low: $82687500, High: $137812500)
Year 5: $121550000 (Low: $91162500, High: $151937500)
Year 10: $134420000 (Low: $100815000, High: $168025000)
Year 100: $3075630000 (Low: $2306722500, High: $3844537500)
Key Considerations
- The size and scope of the DHS council may vary, leading to fluctuations in administrative costs.
- Security enhancements, though crucial, often require reevaluation based on the evolving nature of threats.
- Coordination with numerous stakeholders introduces complexity, potentially increasing costs.