Bill Overview
Title: School Resource Officer Assessment Act of 2022
Description: This bill requires the Department of Justice and the Department of Education to conduct and submit to Congress a survey of the assignment of school resource officers at public elementary and secondary schools.
Sponsors: Rep. Higgins, Clay [R-LA-3]
Target Audience
Population: People at public elementary and secondary schools
Estimated Size: 100000000
- The act involves gathering data about the presence of school resource officers in public schools.
- School resource officers primarily affect students by their presence and involvement in school safety.
- Teachers and school staff might also be influenced by the presence of school resource officers due to changes in school policies or environment.
- Parents may be indirectly impacted as the information could lead to changes affecting their children's safety and security at school.
- The legislation involves public elementary and secondary schools, so school-age children in these institutions are directly concerned.
Reasoning
- The policy involves assessment and does not directly change the deployment of resource officers, meaning the immediate direct effects may be limited.
- The impact is likely indirect, affecting perceptions of safety more than actual physical conditions in the short term.
- Schools with different levels of resource officer presence may report varying satisfaction and feelings of security among students, teachers, and parents.
- Long-term effects depend on how survey results influence future policies or funding for resource officers.
- Budget constraints limit the scope to primarily surveys and assessments rather than implementation of new initiatives.
Simulated Interviews
High School Principal (New York, NY)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The survey is a good first step to understanding how school resource officers affect our environment.
- Data from this survey could drive significant improvements in school safety policies.
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 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Student (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 16 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm a bit skeptical about more resource officers but learning more about their roles could be beneficial.
- Having clearer data on their impact might ease tensions in schools.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Parent (Dallas, TX)
Age: 38 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope this survey will lead to real solutions for improving school safety.
- Any move towards understanding school safety is positive.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Law Enforcement Officer assigned to schools (Chicago, IL)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This survey can highlight our positive impact which is often overlooked.
- I'm hopeful it will showcase how resource officers contribute beyond security.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Elementary School Teacher (Rural Kansas)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Though our school doesn't have resource officers, it's crucial to understand the varied impact they might have.
- I hope this survey prompts more equitable resource distribution.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Parent and PTA President (Miami, FL)
Age: 34 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Important to have data on school officers, but hoping for balanced insights.
- I'd like to see more focus on mental health services too.
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 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
College Student and Former High School Student Body President (Seattle, WA)
Age: 19 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope the survey accurately portrays student experiences.
- This could inform better integration of safety programs.
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 | 7 | 7 |
School District Administrator (Detroit, MI)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The survey results might aid in better resource distribution.
- I look forward to actionable insights on improving our safety strategies.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
School Safety Consultant (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 47 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy could help reshape how we envision school safety.
- Data-driven insights will be crucial to my consultancy work.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
High School Student (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 15 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm curious to know more about how officers are actually affecting our schools.
- Hope this leads to more open conversations about safety in schools.
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 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $10000000 (Low: $5000000, High: $15000000)
Year 2: $8000000 (Low: $4000000, High: $12000000)
Year 3: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 5: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- The scale and accuracy of the survey could significantly impact costs as a more comprehensive approach would be more expensive.
- Coordination between federal departments adds administrative complexity that may increase costs due to the need for interdepartmental communication and integration.
- Potential for improved decision-making post-survey could lead to significant policy shifts in the allocation and use of school resource officers, influencing future budgetary priorities.