Bill Overview
Title: Securing Our Schools Act of 2022
Description: This bill provides funding and resources to (1) strengthen security on school premises, and (2) provide access to student mental health resources. It also generally prohibits the use of federal funding provided by this bill for abortions.
Sponsors: Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX]
Target Audience
Population: Students worldwide
Estimated Size: 65000000
- The bill targets security improvements on school premises, which affect K-12 schools, their staff, and their students.
- The provision of mental health resources directly impacts students by providing them with additional support.
- The funding for mental health resources may also indirectly benefit families and school personnel by improving student wellbeing.
Reasoning
- The policy targets a vast student population in K-12 schools. The budget is limited compared to the total number of students, teachers, and staff who might be affected. The funding must prioritize schools with the most immediate needs for security and mental health resources.
- Improving mental health resources can directly impact students' wellbeing, but limitations in budget mean that not all schools might receive funding immediately, and the impact might vary regionally.
- Security improvements can make school staff and students feel safer, reflecting in their wellbeing, but the cost of such implementations may limit the extent of changes made within the first year.
- Access limitations mean that not all experiences will change drastically; individuals not in immediately impacted schools may see little change, showing the need for strategic implementation to use the budget effectively.
Simulated Interviews
High school student (Houston, TX)
Age: 16 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think it's great that more attention is being paid to school security and mental health.
- The available mental health resources could really help students like me who have anxiety.
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 | 5 |
Middle school teacher (Chicago, IL)
Age: 42 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Security upgrades are very much needed, but I worry about consistency across different schools.
- I hope this policy brings significant improvements, especially in underfunded schools.
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 |
Elementary school principal (Rural Iowa)
Age: 36 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- We often get overlooked due to our size, but these resources could really impact us if we receive support.
- Mental health resources are critical as school counselors are limited in rural areas.
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 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
School security officer (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 47 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Additional security measures are crucial, and this funding can help provide the training we need.
- I hope the budget is enough to cover all necessary improvements.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 4 |
School counselor (New York, NY)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy could relieve some of the pressures from our mental health services.
- It’s crucial that the funding is allocated where it's most needed.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Parent of two high school students (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 52 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Mental health resources are crucial, especially for my daughters given their academic pressures.
- It's reassuring to know that schools are investing in student wellbeing.
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 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
College student and activist for public education (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 24 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Policies like this can help bridge gaps in educational equity, but they must be implemented fairly.
- I worry that not all schools will benefit equally.
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 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Middle school science teacher (Appalachia)
Age: 39 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Security and mental health are important issues, but there are so many competing needs.
- I hope the funding reaches schools like ours that struggle with limited resources.
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 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Retired teacher (Miami, FL)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Glad to see resources allocated for school improvements.
- As a grandparent, I feel it's key for the safety and well-being of my grandchildren.
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 |
Principal of a charter school (Denver, CO)
Age: 33 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Funding is critical for the security upgrades we need at our school.
- I hope charter schools are not left out of these funding opportunities.
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 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $1500000000 (Low: $1200000000, High: $1800000000)
Year 2: $1200000000 (Low: $1000000000, High: $1400000000)
Year 3: $1000000000 (Low: $800000000, High: $1200000000)
Year 5: $1000000000 (Low: $800000000, High: $1200000000)
Year 10: $1000000000 (Low: $800000000, High: $1200000000)
Year 100: $1000000000 (Low: $800000000, High: $1200000000)
Key Considerations
- Ensuring equitable distribution of resources across wealthier and less affluent school districts can affect total costs.
- The implementation will need robust oversight to prevent misuse of federal funds.
- The scope of mental health services will determine ongoing costs.