Bill Overview
Title: Strengthening School Security for Students Act
Description: This bill prohibits a state educational agency (SEA) from receiving federal education funds unless each elementary and secondary school under the jurisdiction of the SEA hires two full-time school resource officers who are licensed to carry a firearm and are trained to prevent student violence for every 500 students in attendance at such school. The bill also rescinds certain unobligated funds provided under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.
Sponsors: Rep. Garcia, Mike [R-CA-25]
Target Audience
Population: people involved in elementary and secondary education worldwide
Estimated Size: 150000000
- The bill requires all elementary and secondary schools to hire two full-time school resource officers for every 500 students, thus impacting all schools at these levels across the nation.
- The additional requirement would apply to the approximately 56.4 million students enrolled in elementary and secondary schools in the U.S. according to 2020 statistics from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).
- The National Center for Education Statistics indicates there are nearly 131,000 K-12 schools in the U.S.
- All students, teaching staff, and school administrative staff in these elementary and secondary schools would be directly impacted by increases in school security personnel and potential changes in the school environment.
- Parents and guardians of students may also feel an indirect impact as perceptions of school safety and budget allocations change.
Reasoning
- The policy is expected to affect a wide population including students, teachers, administrative staff, parents, and local communities. The specific impact will vary with perceptions of safety, budget reallocation, and school culture changes.
- Many schools, particularly in urban and suburban areas, might already have security personnel but this policy standardizes the presence of school resource officers nationwide.
- The funding is substantial, but costs include training, salaries, and broader impact on school budgets due to redirected American Rescue Plan funds. This requires prioritizing among different objectives of the educational system.
Simulated Interviews
School Principal (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Having more resource officers could improve safety, but I'm concerned about the cost implications and potential shifts in school environment.
- Redirecting funds from the American Rescue Plan could affect other crucial programs that we rely on.
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 | 6 |
Parent (Rural Idaho)
Age: 38 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy could mean more safety for my kids, but I worry if rural schools can attract qualified officers.
- It's crucial to balance security with maintaining an inviting and supportive learning environment.
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 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
School Resource Officer (New York City, NY)
Age: 60 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- We already have security measures in place; this helps standardize safety protocols.
- Training and proactive student engagement are key components to preventing violence.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Teacher (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- If funds are cut from our classrooms to pay for officers, our teaching ability is compromised.
- Safety is important, but it shouldn't come at the cost of educational quality.
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 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 4 |
State Educational Agency Official (Chicago, IL)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Implementing this policy would be challenging with current budget constraints.
- Finding and hiring qualified officers in short time is logistically difficult.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Parent and PTA President (Dallas, TX)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I support measures that ensure safety, but the financial aspects worry me. Could these funds be better allocated to other pressing needs?
- Community involvement is crucial to ensure these policies work within local contexts.
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 | 8 |
High School Teacher (Detroit, MI)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- We've needed this kind of policy for years, but it's crucial it doesn't compromise educational resources.
- The tension between safety and educational initiatives could be quite significant.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
College Student (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 22 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I have mixed feelings; increased security could improve student safety, but may also disrupt school environments.
- Resources should be allocated based on school-specific needs rather than a blanket policy.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 4 |
Retired Educator (Boston, MA)
Age: 62 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Policies must consider the holistic development of students rather than focusing narrowly on security.
- The financial implications might be significant, shifting funds from educational growth initiatives.
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 | 8 | 7 |
School District Security Advisor (Miami, FL)
Age: 30 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This initiative could lead to positive changes if the community's displaced funds are reallocated effectively and transparently.
- Regular training and drills will be critical to ensure effectiveness.
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 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $17090000000 (Low: $15000000000, High: $20000000000)
Year 2: $17090000000 (Low: $15000000000, High: $20000000000)
Year 3: $17090000000 (Low: $15000000000, High: $20000000000)
Year 5: $17090000000 (Low: $15000000000, High: $20000000000)
Year 10: $17090000000 (Low: $15000000000, High: $20000000000)
Year 100: $17090000000 (Low: $15000000000, High: $20000000000)
Key Considerations
- The effect of rescinded unobligated funds from the American Rescue Plan Act on current programs.
- Administrative and logistic challenges in scaling up the hiring process across all U.S. schools.
- State and local stakeholders' willingness and ability to comply without federal education funds could vary.
- Potential public concern or support regarding increased armed presence in schools.