Bill Overview
Title: Student and Teacher Safety Act of 2022
Description: 2022 This bill allows local educational agencies to use certain federal funds for activities related to school safety, including infrastructure improvements to prevent, mitigate, or respond to incidents of school violence.
Sponsors: Rep. Grothman, Glenn [R-WI-6]
Target Audience
Population: Students, educators, and school staff globally
Estimated Size: 68000000
- The bill focuses on improving school safety, which directly affects students and teachers who spend a significant portion of their day in educational facilities.
- The population involved includes all individuals currently enrolled in school, including public and private primary, secondary, and possibly higher educational institutions.
- Educators, administrators, and other staff employed in schools will also be directly impacted as they are present daily at the education facilities.
- Parents and guardians of students will also be indirectly affected due to concerns for their children's safety.
Reasoning
- The policy targets a wide array of individuals including students, teachers, and school staff across the U.S., approximately 68 million people, directly affecting their sentiment towards safety at schools.
- Given the $5 billion budget over 10 years, we need to consider both immediate and long-term improvements in school infrastructure which could improve both perceived and actual safety.
- The policy will have varying impacts based on individuals' current perception of safety, previous experiences with school violence, and community involvement in policymaking.
- We cover diverse socio-demographics to reflect the varied experiences and perceptions within the school environments across different regions.
Simulated Interviews
high school student (Texas)
Age: 16 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I feel generally safe at my school, but there have been a few lockdown drills recently that made me nervous.
- If this bill can make sure our school is more secure without feeling like a prison, I'd support it.
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 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
middle school teacher (California)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Our school had a couple of security incidents in the last few years, and it's been mentally draining.
- I'm hopeful that with proper funds, we can focus more on teaching rather than worrying about potential threats.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
school principal (New York)
Age: 38 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- A significant portion of our budget goes into safety measures already. It can be a relief to allocate more resources for other educational programs.
- It's crucial that these funds are used effectively and transparently.
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 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
school security officer (Kansas)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- We are often short-staffed, and it’s tough to manage all the entrances.
- If more resources can be allocated towards hiring additional personnel or enhancing technology, that would significantly alleviate pressure on current staff.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 3 |
high school senior (Florida)
Age: 17 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- School safety is a big concern for me and my friends. We often talk about what we would do if something happened.
- If this bill can help prevent such incidents, I’m all for it.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 3 |
elementary school teacher (Virginia)
Age: 30 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think more focus should be placed on mental health support for students as well.
- Infrastructure improvements alone may not address the root causes of violence.
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 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
middle school student (Illinois)
Age: 12 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I feel safe at my school, but my parents are always worried.
- If they can see that my school becomes safer, maybe they'll be less anxious.
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 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
school district administrator (Ohio)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- If structured properly, this policy could lead to varied improvements across the state.
- Balancing budgetary considerations with actual needs will be the key.
- Implementation will require careful planning and consistency.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 10 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
college student (Colorado)
Age: 20 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While I am not directly impacted in my college now, I advocate for safer high schools.
- Such bills are steps in the right direction, though perhaps too small.
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 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
retired teacher (Georgia)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I’ve seen the evolution of safety measures over years, and policies like this show promise.
- It's vital to look at these policies through a holistic perspective that ensures all-round safety, not just reactionary 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 | 8 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $500000000 (Low: $400000000, High: $600000000)
Year 2: $500000000 (Low: $400000000, High: $600000000)
Year 3: $500000000 (Low: $400000000, High: $600000000)
Year 5: $500000000 (Low: $400000000, High: $600000000)
Year 10: $500000000 (Low: $400000000, High: $600000000)
Year 100: $500000000 (Low: $400000000, High: $600000000)
Key Considerations
- The efficacy of infrastructure improvements may vary significantly based on the local application of the funds.
- Ensuring equitable distribution of improvements across varying socioeconomic statuses will be crucial.
- Coordination between federal, state, and local agencies is essential for smooth implementation.