Armed Educators a Reality in Some Schools, Debated in Others

Smoke and shell casings fly as teachers and staff from Clifton Independent School District in Clifton, Texas, fire handguns at a range just outside of Clifton during training on what they need to know to get a license to carry a concealed gun.

—Lance Rosenfield/Prime for Education Week

As a once-unthinkable idea gains currency, educators ask: what happens if I miss?

By Nirvi Shah

Valley Mills, Texas

Shooting instructor Johnny Price looked at the teachers lined up in front of him, a selection of handguns resting on the table before them. He slid his fingertips over the clean, round bullet holes beyond the outlines of a human torso on paper targets a few yards away.

“That,” Mr. Price said, pointing to a hole that missed the target completely, “is a child.”

Mr. Price, the owner of Big Iron Concealed Handgun Training in Waco, Texas, spent two days this month training teachers and staff members from the Clifton school district in all they need to know to earn licenses to carry weapons out of sight. There is no indication that the 1,000-student district is leaning toward allowing employees to...