Concerns about School Safety Spending

As school districts invest more in school safety, concerned groups like the Kids First Coalition see a growing trend toward punitive student safety measures-such as metal detectors and security cameras. Ironically, though, this trend does not match the pattern of violence in our nation’s schools.

Between 1992 and 1996, the victimization rate for nonfatal serious violent crimes (i.e., robbery, aggravated assault) remained relatively constant in schools, according to a 1997 study by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).

The NCES study also found that punitive security measures are especially prevalent for students who attend large schools or who are poor and minority. These students are more likely to encounter random metal detector searches than other students, according to the 1997 NCES study.

CPA is partnering with the Applied Research Center’s Grass Roots Innovative Policy Program (GRIPP). For more information on the issue of school safety spending and other resources on race and public policy, policymakers can subscribe to the GRIPP newsletter or visit GRIPP’s Website: Grass Roots Innovative Policy Program (GRIPP)