Parents, students, and teachers should not have to live in fear of gun violence.
We need proven solutions to make schools safer.
Crisis identification and assessment programs are one example. They intervene at the earliest warning signs of potential violence and divert students who would do harm to themselves or others to appropriate resources. That includes making sure enough professionals are available to provide students with meaningful mental health services.
Secure storage notification policies are another available option. They let schools send home information about secure firearm storage, which helps keep kids safe at home and in school. This kind of communication is a growing trend across the country; right now, more than 2.5 million students nationwide attend schools with these policies.
These programs do not rely on discipline or the criminal justice system to stop gun violence. And when properly implemented, they prevent undue harm to students of color or students with disabilities.
We must make sure that students have everything they need to grow and thrive—instead of arming their teachers and militarizing their schools.
Add your name to show you support crisis identification and assessment programs, and secure storage notification policies that support students, make schools safer, and save lives.