Bill Overview
Title: Securing American Classrooms Act of 2022
Description: This bill makes certain funds available to the Department of Justice for the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) grant program. It requires a portion of these grants to be made to grant recipients that (1) certify they will use such funds to establish school-based partnerships between local law enforcement agencies and local school systems for school resource officers, and (2) will hire at least one veteran as a school resource officer.
Sponsors: Rep. Moore, Barry [R-AL-2]
Target Audience
Population: People attending or working in schools worldwide
Estimated Size: 1000000000
- The bill impacts schools which will receive funding for resource officers.
- Both students and school staff will be directly impacted by increased presence of law enforcement.
- School resource officers, particularly those hired through this funding who are veterans, are directly impacted through employment opportunities.
- The bill impacts local law enforcement agencies involved in partnering with schools.
Reasoning
- The policy impacts a wide range of individuals, including students, school staff, law enforcement officials, and veterans. Therefore, I included interviews with representatives from these groups.
- Budget constraints mean not all schools can benefit equally, so the impact may vary significantly across different locations.
- Some individuals might see no change without direct involvement with the policy or the resources it brings, so I included people not affected as controls.
- Employment opportunities for veterans are a primary feature of the policy, so their perspective is included to gauge direct benefits.
- Differences in viewpoints might occur based on the rural or urban nature of a school, hence varying potential for new resource officers.
Simulated Interviews
High school student (Houston, TX)
Age: 17 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think having officers around could make us feel safer, but it might be weird having more adults watching us all the time.
- It would be cool if some of the veterans could talk to us about careers in law enforcement.
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 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
High school teacher (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- We always could use more help ensuring student safety, but having more officers might make the school feel more like a police station.
- It could help having veterans as they might handle situations more sensitively.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 4 |
Veteran, aspiring school resource officer (Chicago, IL)
Age: 30 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This is a great opportunity for veterans like me to continue serving communities.
- It's a win-win, providing jobs for veterans and security for schools.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
School principal (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 52 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The presence of resource officers is useful, especially veterans who might handle kids more effectively due to experience.
- However, this doesn't address other resource shortages in 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 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Police officer (Seattle, WA)
Age: 28 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Building trust with young people in schools is crucial and this policy can assist greatly.
- However, constant presence might strain relationships if not handled delicately.
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 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Parent of high school student (New York, NY)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- More officers might make my kid feel safe, but I'm worried it shifts focus from mental health resources they really need.
- Security isn't just about presence, it's about understanding student needs.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 3 |
Recent graduate and activist (Austin, TX)
Age: 22 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Funding should prioritize resources that impact student success like counseling.
- Veterans as resource officers might help, but adjusting school dynamics needs comprehensive solutions.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 4 |
Small town sheriff (Rural Kentucky)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Bringing veterans into schools is a compelling idea, especially in small communities where we support our troops.
- This could strengthen school safety and community ties if implemented thoughtfully.
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 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
School counselor (Minneapolis, MN)
Age: 47 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I feel conflicted—the presence of officers is reassuring for some, but can be intimidating for others.
- We need holistic safety measures, including mental health services.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
High school janitor (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Having veterans around could make a difference, especially in low-income schools with higher incidents.
- However, more resources for fixing facilities would be appreciated too.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 4 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $150000000 (Low: $140000000, High: $160000000)
Year 2: $155000000 (Low: $145000000, High: $165000000)
Year 3: $160000000 (Low: $150000000, High: $170000000)
Year 5: $170000000 (Low: $160000000, High: $180000000)
Year 10: $190000000 (Low: $180000000, High: $200000000)
Year 100: $340000000 (Low: $320000000, High: $360000000)
Key Considerations
- Sustainability of funding for hiring and training school resource officers.
- Effectiveness of school resource officers in enhancing safety.
- Potential indirect benefits of veteran employment in these roles.