Bill Overview
Title: Safe to Tell Act of 2022
Description: This bill authorizes the Department of Justice to make grants to states for establishing anonymous school threat reporting programs.
Sponsors: Rep. McMorris Rodgers, Cathy [R-WA-5]
Target Audience
Population: People engaged with or attending K-12 education globally
Estimated Size: 150000000
- The bill is aimed at establishing anonymous school threat reporting programs, primarily affecting the school sector.
- Students will be the primary beneficiaries as their safety in schools will be enhanced.
- Teachers and school staff will also be affected as the program could create a safer working environment.
- Parents will be impacted indirectly through increased safety for their children attending schools.
- The bill is expected to impact all K-12 schools across the United States.
- Given its focus on 'states', it will primarily target populations in the United States but could also serve as a model internationally.
Reasoning
- The Safe to Tell Act of 2022 is designed to enhance safety in schools, primarily benefiting students, teachers, and parents through anonymous threat reporting.
- The substantial budget over 10 years indicates a long-term commitment to improving school safety, which may result in sustained positive impacts on wellbeing.
- The broad reach across all K-12 schools means the policy has the potential to impact a very large number of people across diverse demographics and locations.
- Wellbeing impacts might include reduced anxiety about safety concerns for students, teachers, and parents.
- Given the policy's focus is on prevention and safety, it may not directly affect everyone's perception of wellbeing immediately, but rather over time as the effectiveness of the program is observed.
Simulated Interviews
Student (Chicago, IL)
Age: 16 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think having a way to report things anonymously could help students feel safer.
- It might reduce bullying and threats if more people feel comfortable speaking up.
- I hope it makes our school environment less stressful because we know issues will be addressed.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Teacher (New York, NY)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I support the initiative if it means we're addressing threats proactively.
- Safety is a daily concern as a teacher, and this could relieve some stress.
- The devil is in the details of implementation, though.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Parent (Dallas, TX)
Age: 38 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- As a parent, school safety is always on my mind, so I think this could help.
- I'm hopeful that teachers and students can prevent more dangerous situations.
- The funding and training provided are crucial to its success.
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 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
School Principal (Rural Kentucky)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The program could be very useful, especially in smaller communities where everyone knows everyone.
- Anonymity might encourage more students to report issues without fear.
- Budget allocation to rural areas is something I am cautiously optimistic about.
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 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
School Counselor (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 61 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think this reporting system might help students open up about serious issues.
- Effective anonymity can lead to a more honest environment regarding threats.
- There needs to be a clear follow-up process to ensure reports are effective.
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 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
College Student (Seattle, WA)
Age: 29 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This program could have significant implications on students' mental health and overall school culture.
- It's important to balance anonymity with accountability.
- I'm interested to see how reporting data will be handled.
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 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
School Board Member (Miami, FL)
Age: 47 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I believe it can enhance our existing safety protocols and should be prioritized.
- We must ensure it is funded adequately throughout the period promised.
- Monitoring its success will be key to adapting policies in the future.
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 | 4 |
Police Officer (New Orleans, LA)
Age: 52 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Having more structured reporting can streamline threat assessment responsibilities.
- The DOJ grant is a positive step to support local law enforcement in schools.
- Effective communication between schools and police is crucial.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Recent high school graduate (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 23 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think this is a great step for students who sometimes feel unheard.
- It's important for schools to prioritize safety through proactive approaches.
- I hope this continues to evolve and improve over time.
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 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Cybersecurity Consultant (Denver, CO)
Age: 34 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The intention is good but needs a strong cybersecurity framework to be effective.
- Anonymity must be protected without compromising security.
- Balancing data protection with threat management is key.
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 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $200000000 (Low: $180000000, High: $220000000)
Year 2: $150000000 (Low: $130000000, High: $170000000)
Year 3: $130000000 (Low: $110000000, High: $150000000)
Year 5: $120000000 (Low: $100000000, High: $140000000)
Year 10: $100000000 (Low: $80000000, High: $120000000)
Year 100: $50000000 (Low: $30000000, High: $70000000)
Key Considerations
- The initial implementation phase will be the most costly and complex due to the need to establish new systems and processes across various state jurisdictions.
- Variability in state participation may influence total costs and the timing of expenditures.
- Ongoing training and system maintenance costs are necessary to ensure the effectiveness and sustainability of the reporting programs.
- Measuring the effectiveness of the policy will require ongoing evaluation of safety improvements and threat incident reductions.
- Coordination with existing school safety programs will be essential to maximize efficiency and impact.