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Each year, the state of Maryland spends $10 million to fund school police; however, no national or Maryland study has found that police presence decreases school violence. Why not instead use our resources on practices proven to make students safer and healthier? Educators, researchers, and law enforcement have found that strategies that support students’ positive behavior and strengthen relationships among students, staff, and parents are effective for keeping schools safe.
Proven and promising strategies include:
- Restorative approaches
- Trauma-informed approaches
- Provision of wraparound services, including through community schools
- Special education planning and implementation
- Hiring of mental health specialists, counselors, and community resource coordinators
Here’s what you can do today:
- Ask your friends if they’ve heard of the movement to remove police from Maryland schools and start the conversation with your fellow constituents. Encourage them to reach out to their representatives to let them know that Maryland schools should be police-free.
- Follow police-free schools initiatives on social media for more updates. You can find the Committee to Reform School Discipline on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, as well as the Public Justice Center on Facebook and Twitter
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