Bill Overview
Title: Protect Our Children's Schools Act
Description: This bill requires the Department of Education's unobligated COVID-19 funds to be made available to local educational agencies for the purpose of keeping elementary and secondary schools safe.
Sponsors: Rep. Weber, Randy K., Sr. [R-TX-14]
Target Audience
Population: Students, teachers, and staff in elementary and secondary schools worldwide
Estimated Size: 65000000
- The bill targets local educational agencies, which implies a focus on schools, specifically elementary and secondary schools.
- According to UNESCO, there are about 1.5 billion students globally attending elementary and secondary schools.
- Teachers and school staff are also likely to be impacted as they work in these environments. The International Labour Organization estimated around 80 million teachers worldwide as of a recent year.
- The bill is focused on making schools 'safe,' which could include physical safety or health safety measures that affect everyone present in such environments.
Reasoning
- The policy targets students, teachers, and related staff in elementary and secondary schools, which in the U.S. is a population of about 65 million people.
- The budget of $500 million in Year 1 and 10 years suggests that large scale, costly interventions are not possible per individual, suggesting measures like upgrades in security systems, health protocols, or basic infrastructure improvements.
- Factors like location and existing school conditions may lead to uneven impacts as some regions may benefit more than others.
- Due to the large number of people involved, some individuals might not notice a direct personal impact even if schools receive funding.
- The perception of safety improvements is subjective and may not necessarily align with actual risk reduction, affecting self-reported wellbeing.
Simulated Interviews
student (New York, NY)
Age: 15 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think it's important to feel safe at school because it's hard to focus when you're worried about things outside of learning.
- If this policy really makes schools safer, that would be a huge relief for me and my friends.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
teacher (Detroit, MI)
Age: 34 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's encouraging to see funds going towards making schools safer, but I hope it addresses real issues like too few security personnel or inadequate building maintenance.
- I've seen policies come and go, but actual implementation is what really matters.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
school administrator (Dallas, TX)
Age: 44 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Investing in school safety is always a good move, but we need explicit guidelines on how to prioritize the spending.
- Cybersecurity is increasingly important and should not be overlooked in this instance.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
student (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 9 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I like school and playing outside with my friends. If the school feels safer, that's good because sometimes we have drills that are scary.
- My mom and dad always talk about how important safety is. I'm happy if they are happy.
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 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
school support staff (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 22 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Safety is important, but the funds should also consider staff wellbeing and training.
- Anything that adds to our resources and makes students feel secure is welcome.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
principal (Minneapolis, MN)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope the policy includes mental health initiatives as part of the safety measures.
- Physical safety is just part of the equation; mental health is crucial for overall wellbeing.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
security consultant (Chicago, IL)
Age: 38 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope funds are allocated to improve the technological side of school security.
- There's a need for standardized practices across schools to ensure safety is consistently high.
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 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
nurse (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Good to know that school safety might be improved, but health education and resources are equally important.
- Ensuring we are prepared and well-stocked can only enhance the students' feelings of being secure.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
custodian (Rural Iowa)
Age: 61 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 6.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Any policy that makes schools safer is a plus, but simple fixes like better lighting and secure entrances make a difference too.
- I think the funds should start with addressing basic structural problems in many rural schools.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
parent (Boston, MA)
Age: 47 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Safety in schools is very important, but funds should be spent transparently and effectively.
- This should include input from parents and local communities for best results.
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 | 6 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $500000000 (Low: $300000000, High: $700000000)
Year 2: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
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 amount of unobligated COVID-19 funds can vary based on previous commitments and reimbursements.
- Impact is largely dependent on the speed and effectiveness with which funds are reallocated and deployed by local educational agencies.
- Stakeholder engagement, particularly with school districts, will be crucial in ensuring the funds improve safety comprehensively.