Collection 021518 Parkland
School Climate & Safety Collection

The Parkland School Shooting: Complete Coverage

On Feb. 14, 2018, a former student with a semi-automatic rifle opened fire at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., killing 17 people and sending hundreds fleeing into the streets. It would become the third-deadliest school shooting in the nation’s history.

The shooting has already reignited polarizing debates about gun rights and school safety. Below is a collection of stories about the shooting—the details of which are still emerging.

Read Education Week’s Special Report: A Broken Trust: Inside the Rift Between Parkland and Its School District

States Parkland Commission: Police Should Get Real-Time Access to School Security Cameras
Live, real-time access to school camera systems could improve police response to tragedies. But law-enforcement surveillance in public schools could also have negative consequences.
Benjamin Herold, December 13, 2018
6 min read
Broward County Schools Superintendent Robert Runcie at left. Clockwise from left are parents Tony Montalto, Ryan Petty, Max Schachter, Andrew Pollack, Fred Guttenberg, and Lori Alhadeff.
Broward County Schools Superintendent Robert Runcie at left. Clockwise from left are parents Tony Montalto, Ryan Petty, Max Schachter, Andrew Pollack, Fred Guttenberg, and Lori Alhadeff.
Josh Ritchie for Education Week
School Climate & Safety Project Why Victims' Families Are Seething Over Broward Schools' Handling of the Parkland Shooting
Grieving families say missteps, inaction, and a lack of empathy have broken their trust in the Broward school district and its leader.
Benjamin Herold, December 12, 2018
34 min read
Ernest Rospierski, a geography and history teacher at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, braved gunfire to save multiple students' lives. Rospierski said it was five months after the shooting before officials from the Broward County school district contacted him to inquire about his well-being.
Ernest Rospierski, a geography and history teacher at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, braved gunfire to save multiple students' lives. Rospierski said it was five months after the shooting before officials from the Broward County school district contacted him to inquire about his well-being.
Josh Ritchie for Education Week
School Climate & Safety Project Hero Parkland Teacher on School District’s Response to Shooting: 'Too Little, Too Late'
Ernest Rospierski braved gunfire to save his students' lives. Five months later, the district called to see if he's OK.
Benjamin Herold, December 12, 2018
7 min read
The PTA at Parkland’s Riverglades Elementary School decided to spend some of the funds it has raised on beefing up security, including a new buzzer system for the entrance to the school.
The PTA at Parkland’s Riverglades Elementary School decided to spend some of the funds it has raised on beefing up security, including a new buzzer system for the entrance to the school.
Josh Ritchie for Education Week
Families & the Community Project At a Parkland Elementary School, PTA Decides It Can’t Wait for Safety Upgrades
Parkland, Fla., parents used to buy musical instruments for their children's school. Now, they are also paying for stop-the-bleed kits.
Benjamin Herold, December 12, 2018
4 min read
broken trust shareable getty
Getty
Law & Courts Project Over 100 Pending Lawsuits Blame the Parkland Shooting on the School District. Do They Stand a Chance?
Broward County Public Schools has received at least 103 notices of pending legal claims related to the Parkland mass shooting.
Benjamin Herold, December 12, 2018
5 min read
Equity & Diversity Lawsuit Challenges Florida's Post-Parkland Plan to Arm Some School Employees
A Florida district's decision to put armed "school safety assistants" in its elementary schools puts the safety and well-being of its students at risk and oversteps existing state law, says a lawsuit, which could topple school security plans throughout the state.
Evie Blad, November 29, 2018
3 min read
A makeshift memorial is seen outside the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., on Feb. 19, where 17 students and faculty were killed in a mass shooting on Feb. 14.
A makeshift memorial is seen outside the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., on Feb. 19, where 17 students and faculty were killed in a mass shooting on Feb. 14.
Gerald Herbert/AP
Education Parkland Shooting Investigation: Cruz's Violent Acts Well-Known, But Not Reported or Acted On
Details revealed by the state commission investigating the shooting fit in with a larger pattern in which officials from law enforcement, mental health agencies, and schools appear to have missed possible warning signs related to Cruz.
Benjamin Herold, November 13, 2018
3 min read
Mourners gather at a candlelight vigil for the victims of the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla.
Mourners gather at a candlelight vigil for the victims of the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla.
Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times/TNS
Federal The Parkland Shooting's Role in the Close Florida Senate Race
The impact of the killings of students and staff at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School could extend into the tight Florida contest that will help decide control of the U.S. Senate.
Andrew Ujifusa, November 1, 2018
4 min read
Broward County Schools Superintendent Robert Runcie speaks during a news conference on Feb. 15, near Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., where 17 people were killed the day before in a mass shooting.
Broward County Schools Superintendent Robert Runcie speaks during a news conference on Feb. 15, near Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., where 17 people were killed the day before in a mass shooting.
Amy Beth Bennett/Sun Sentinel/TNS
School Climate & Safety Superintendent Runcie Describes How He Handled the Aftermath of the Parkland Shooting
Calling the Parkland, Fla., shooting a "9/11 moment for schools," Broward County Superintendent Robert Runcie said the tragedy brought overwhelming logistical, political, and communications challenges to the district.
Evie Blad, October 25, 2018
8 min read
School Climate & Safety School Safety Requires Prevention, Not Just Physical Security, Federal Commission Told
While many school safety conversations since the Feb. 14 shooting in Parkland, Fla., have focused on "hardening schools" with physical security measures, keeping students safe requires a broader, multifaceted approach, panelists said.
Evie Blad, August 16, 2018
8 min read
School Climate & Safety Parkland Shooting Victims' Families: School Board Is Weak on Safety
Families of those killed in the Parkland, Fla., school shooting urged voters to elect new members to the Broward County school board.
Evie Blad, August 9, 2018
3 min read
School Climate & Safety Investigation Into Parkland School Shooter Flags Transition Out of Special Education Program
A consultant's review of the Parkland, Fla., school shooter's educational history found that the Broward County School District did not respond properly when the gunman, a former student, asked to be re-enrolled in special education services after opting out of the program several months earlier.
Evie Blad, August 3, 2018
6 min read
Lauren Hogg, an incoming sophomore at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., and sister of activist David Hogg, speaks as graduate Ryan Deistch looks on during the Road to Change ally on gun violence Thursday in Blacksburg, Va. “At our school, there were good guys with guns, and they couldn’t stop him,” said Hogg in response to a question about the debate on expanding firearms access.
Lauren Hogg, an incoming sophomore at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., and sister of activist David Hogg, speaks as graduate Ryan Deistch looks on during the Road to Change ally on gun violence Thursday in Blacksburg, Va. “At our school, there were good guys with guns, and they couldn’t stop him,” said Hogg in response to a question about the debate on expanding firearms access.
Michael Shroyer/The Roanoke Times
School Climate & Safety Parkland Students Are Still Going Strong. Their Message to Students: Vote
In Blacksburg, Va., and other stops on their summer road tour, Marjory Stoneman Douglas survivors and their fellow activists are integrating their anti-gun messages with a strong call for young people to register and vote.
Stephen Sawchuk, August 3, 2018
7 min read
School Climate & Safety After Parkland Shooting, District Teams With Sandy Hook Promise to Spot Warning Signs of Violence
As it works to heal from the Parkland school shooting, the Broward County school district in Florida plans to partner with Sandy Hook Promise to help prevent future violence.
Evie Blad, July 24, 2018
2 min read
A makeshift memorial is seen outside the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., on Feb. 19, where 17 students and faculty were killed in a mass shooting on Feb. 14.
A makeshift memorial is seen outside the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., on Feb. 19, where 17 students and faculty were killed in a mass shooting on Feb. 14.
Gerald Herbert/AP
School Climate & Safety Controversial Discipline Program Not to Blame for Parkland School Shooting, Commission Finds
A controversial school discipline program designed to reduce student arrests cannot be blamed for a shooting by a former student in Parkland, Fla., a state commission said Tuesday.
Evie Blad, July 10, 2018
2 min read
School Climate & Safety In Parkland, New Safety Measures Pitched in Response to School Shooting
A local task force unveiled 90 pages of safety recommendations for Broward County, Fla., schools Monday in response to a Feb. 14 school shooting in the district's Stoneman Douglas High School.
Evie Blad, June 5, 2018
3 min read
School Climate & Safety 'March for Our Lives' Student Organizers Announce Nationwide Voter Registration Tour
Student who launched a youth movement for stronger gun laws after surviving a mass shooting at their Parkland, Fla., high school announced Monday plans for a nationwide tour aimed at registering young voters.
Evie Blad, June 4, 2018
3 min read
School Climate & Safety Parkland Drama Teacher Who Hid 65 Students From Gunman Wins Tony Award
Melody Herzfeld, a drama teacher at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, received an award this week for excellence in theater education from the biggest name in Broadway honors: the Tony Awards.
Sarah Schwartz, June 1, 2018
3 min read
School Climate & Safety Company Pulls School Shooter Video Game After Outrage From Victims' Families
A site removed a game that would have allowed players to pose as school shooters after it drew condemnation from parents of students killed in the Parkland shooting, along with politicians, and education groups.
Evie Blad, May 29, 2018
3 min read
School Climate & Safety A Principal Lost Her Daughter in the Parkland Shooting. As She Grieved, the District Tried to Dock Her Pay
April Schentrup told Broward County, Fla., school board members the district tried to dock her pay for missed time from work after her daughter was killed in the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
Corey Mitchell, May 23, 2018
1 min read
School Climate & Safety Parkland Survivors and Other Youth Activists: 'You're Going to Listen to Us' on Gun Violence
The student activists from Parkland, Fla., Newtown, Conn., and Chicago urged the media to keep the national spotlight on gun violence and not let their tragedies fade away.
Madeline Will, May 17, 2018
6 min read
A makeshift memorial is seen outside the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., on Feb. 19, where 17 students and faculty were killed in a mass shooting on Feb. 14.
A makeshift memorial is seen outside the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., on Feb. 19, where 17 students and faculty were killed in a mass shooting on Feb. 14.
Gerald Herbert/AP
School Climate & Safety Why a Revelation About the Parkland School Shooter's Disciplinary History Matters
News that Parkland shooter Nikolas Cruz was once referred to an alternative school discipline program has added fuel to a debate about what the district could have done differently.
Evie Blad, May 7, 2018
6 min read
School Climate & Safety News in Brief School Design Contributed to Massacre at Florida School, Investigator Says
Faulty classroom design and failures in the police radio and 911 systems contributed to the chaos and 17 deaths during the recent Florida high school massacre, a commission investigating the shooting in February was told at its first meeting last week.
1 min read
Parents, teachers, and students stand in line to ask questions of Broward County school officials during a safety meeting held last week in Plantation, Fla.
Parents, teachers, and students stand in line to ask questions of Broward County school officials during a safety meeting held last week in Plantation, Fla.
Jim Rassol/South Florida Sun-Sentinel/AP
School Climate & Safety Parents Lash Out at District Over Shooting
During an emotional public safety forum in Broward County, Fla., shaken students and enraged parents and educators demanded fixes for what they consider lax security, district indifference, and failure to act to prevent the mass shooting that killed 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
Corey Mitchell, April 24, 2018
3 min read
School Climate & Safety Parkland Victims' Families Have Pushed for Change. Here's What They've Accomplished.
While Parkland's student activists have received much attention, family members of victims of a school shooting their have successfully pushed for changes at both the state and federal levels.
Evie Blad, March 23, 2018
5 min read
Education Parkland Student-Journalists Reflect on Surviving and Covering a Mass Shooting
Five staff members of the student newspaper at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, discuss being both survivors of the mass shooting at the Florida school and journalists covering it.
Mark Walsh, March 23, 2018
3 min read
George Roberts was the principal at Perry Hall High School in 2012 when a student shot Daniel Borowy, a student with Down Syndrome, in the cafeteria on the first day of school. Borowy survived and returned to add his handprint to the Baltimore LOVE Project mural painted in the cafeteria. Each handprint on the mural is from every student who was in the cafeteria at the time of the shooting. Borowy’s is the single white handprint on the “O.” The mural was finished December 13, 2012, one day before the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre.
George Roberts was the principal at Perry Hall High School in 2012 when a student shot Daniel Borowy, a student with Down Syndrome, in the cafeteria on the first day of school. Borowy survived and returned to add his handprint to the Baltimore LOVE Project mural painted in the cafeteria. Each handprint on the mural is from every student who was in the cafeteria at the time of the shooting. Borowy’s is the single white handprint on the “O.” The mural was finished December 13, 2012, one day before the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre.
Matt Roth for Education Week
School Climate & Safety 'You Have to Redefine Normal': Leading Schools in the Aftermath of a Shooting
In the unfortunate club of principals and K-12 administrators whose schools become the site of unthinkable violence, the best source of guidance to navigate the grief, trauma, and leadership challenges that follow are their peers who've been through it.
Denisa R. Superville, March 21, 2018
10 min read
School Climate & Safety Lawmakers Question Obama-Era Discipline Policy at Hearing on Parkland Shooting
Members of Congress debated a directive to drive down disproportionately high discipline rates for students of color with Republicans questioning whether similar policies in a Florida district allowed the accused Parkland, Fla., shooter to avoid being arrested despite his reportedly frequent discipline issues at school.
Evie Blad, March 20, 2018
8 min read
Education '60 Minutes' Profiles Student Leaders of the 'Mass Shooting Generation'
The CBS News magazine show spotlights five of the students leading the debate on guns and school safety after the Feb. 14 shootings at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
Mark Walsh, March 19, 2018
2 min read
Crime scene tape runs outside Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., in the days after the Feb. 14 fatal shooting there.
Crime scene tape runs outside Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., in the days after the Feb. 14 fatal shooting there.
Gerald Herbert/AP
Equity & Diversity Civil Rights Groups Sound the Alarm About Safety Plans After Parkland Shooting
"Knee-jerk reactions" to school safety fears after a school shooting in Parkland, Fla., have created civil rights concerns for students of color and students with disabilities, a group of civil rights organizations said Monday.
Evie Blad, March 19, 2018
5 min read
Ryan Petty, left, of Parkland, Fla., whose 14-year-old daughter, Alaina, was killed in the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, hugs Katherine Posada, a teacher at the school, after they testified at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing.
Ryan Petty, left, of Parkland, Fla., whose 14-year-old daughter, Alaina, was killed in the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, hugs Katherine Posada, a teacher at the school, after they testified at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing.
Jacquelyn Martin/AP
School Climate & Safety Federal Response to Fla. Shooting Starts to Take Shape
Legislation on school safety is bubbling in the Republican-controlled Congress, though new gun restrictions don't appear to be in the cards.
Andrew Ujifusa, March 20, 2018
5 min read
Federal House Passes STOP School Violence Act One Month After Parkland Shooting
The bill passed the House exactly one month after 17 students and staff were shot and killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla.
Andrew Ujifusa, March 14, 2018
1 min read
Federal Senators Zero In on Law Enforcement, School Discipline in Hearing on Parkland Shooting
Republicans tended to focus on what law enforcement and schools could have done to prevent the shooting in Florida last month, while Democrats pushed for more-restrictive gun laws.
Andrew Ujifusa, March 14, 2018
6 min read
Students rally outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington on March 14 during the nationwide school walkout.
Students rally outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington on March 14 during the nationwide school walkout.
Andrew Harnik/AP
School & District Management In Response to Mass Student Walkouts, Conservatives Largely Stay Silent
By some estimates, 1 million students walked out of schools to honor the Parkland, Fla., victims and call for stricter gun laws, while Republican politicians all but ignored them.
Evie Blad & Francisco Vara-Orta, March 15, 2018
9 min read
Kathy Durham, a West Wendover High School civics teacher, talks with students about crafting legislation around gun control during a U.S. Government class for seniors in West Wendover, Nev.
Kathy Durham, a West Wendover High School civics teacher, talks with students about crafting legislation around gun control during a U.S. Government class for seniors in West Wendover, Nev.
Kim Raff for Education Week
School Climate & Safety Post-Parkland, the Second Amendment Gets a Closer Look in Class
Two Nevada high school classes are getting a deep lesson on the Second Amendment and learning firsthand why the debate over the right to bear arms can be so politically divisive and emotionally fraught.
Stephen Sawchuk, March 15, 2018
10 min read
School Climate & Safety Video Instead of a Walkout, Some Students Had a 'Walk In'
On a day when thousands of students nationwide were walking out of their schools in response to gun violence and the shootings in Parkland, Fla., high school students in Yonkers, N.Y., assembled in their gymnasium to participate in an assembly organized by the administration. For 11th grade student Britney Cruz and others, a walk-in was not what they had in mind. They wanted to lead their classmates out of the building. But for Yonkers Superintendent of Schools Edwin M.Guezada and many other school leaders across the country, allowing students to leave the safety of their school buildings posed risks. Guezada argued that bringing students, administrators, and elected officials together on the day of protests could be more powerful.
March 15, 2018
2:42
School Climate & Safety Video Gun Control Walkout Just The Start, Students at One Maryland School Say
Hundreds of students bundled up against the cold and headed out of Maryland’s Parkdale High School to join the nationwide walkout on gun control. More than 2,000 students attend the school, in the Prince George’s County school district outside Washington. Student government leaders at the largely Hispanic and African-American campus led the march and rally, chanting “books, not bullets,” and “hey hey, ho, ho, gun violence has got to go”. They observed a moment of silence for the lives lost at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School last month and released 17 balloons, one for each victim at the Florida school. Students say they will lobby lawmakers to make it tougher for troubled individuals to get guns, and they pledged to keep up the pressure long after today’s marches were over. “We shouldn’t have to worry about getting hurt in school,” said sophomore Jordan Cooper. “From here we keep marching, keep protesting, keep speaking, keep tweeting… until we see change.”
March 15, 2018
2:17
Carrying crosses emblazoned with photos and names of the city's victims of gun violence, high school senior D'Angelo McDade, front right, leads a march in Chicago's North Lawndale neighborhood during a walkout to protest gun violence, on March 14.
Carrying crosses emblazoned with photos and names of the city's victims of gun violence, high school senior D'Angelo McDade, front right, leads a march in Chicago's North Lawndale neighborhood during a walkout to protest gun violence, on March 14.
Martha Irvine/AP
School & District Management Student Walkout Taps Well of Anger, Mourning Over Gun Violence
The thousands who left their schools nationwide to mark the Feb. 14 shootings in Parkland, Fla., rode a dramatic wave of youth activism tinged with sadness about those killed in their schools and communities.
Mark Walsh, March 14, 2018
6 min read
School Climate & Safety Collection Student Walkouts
Education Week reported from schools and communities around the U.S. to provide live coverage of the 2018 student walkouts and school-based events throughout the day. Here is a complete collection of our coverage.
March 14, 2018
Federal House Passes STOP School Violence Act One Month After Parkland Shooting
The bill passed the House exactly one month after 17 students and staff were shot and killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla.
Andrew Ujifusa, March 14, 2018
1 min read
Student Well-Being 'The Most Traumatizing Experience Imaginable.' Stoneman Douglas Teacher Tells Senators About Students' Pain
After a school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, students will be processing their trauma for years to come, a teacher told lawmakers.
Evie Blad, March 14, 2018
2 min read
Federal Senators Zero In on Law Enforcement, School Discipline in Hearing on Parkland Shooting
Republicans tended to focus on what law enforcement and schools could have done to prevent the shooting in Florida last month, while Democrats pushed for more-restrictive gun laws.
Andrew Ujifusa, March 14, 2018
6 min read
School Climate & Safety Video What to Expect From Student Walkouts on Gun Violence
Wednesday marks the one month anniversary since the shooting at Majorie Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland Florida that left 17 students and teachers dead. Thousands of students around the nation will mark the day by staging walkouts - many will be 17 minutes long - one for each of the victims. The protests are designed to put pressure on Congress to tighten gun laws. We look at how the walkouts will unfold and how schools are handling them.
March 13, 2018
4:01
BRIC ARCHIVE
Getty/Getty
School Climate & Safety Opinion Students Are Walking Out. Are Schools Ready for When They Walk Back In?
There are four things educators should know about engaging students in these politically tumultuous times, write two civic-education leaders.
Sarah Andes & Dana Harris, March 13, 2018
5 min read
Student Madison Flores, 17, participates in a walkout and demonstration for gun control at Anderson High School in Austin, Texas, on Feb. 23.
Student Madison Flores, 17, participates in a walkout and demonstration for gun control at Anderson High School in Austin, Texas, on Feb. 23.
Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman via AP
School Climate & Safety This Week's Nationwide Student Walkout: 6 Things to Know
K-12 leaders need to prepare for what may be a massive student walkout tied to ending gun violence and school shootings. Here's a primer on students' rights to participate, what districts' responsibilities are for keeping them safe, and alternatives to leaving campus.
Denisa R. Superville, March 12, 2018
6 min read
Federal Parkland Student David Hogg, Other Advocates Lobby Capitol Hill on Gun Control
Democrats in Congress heard from students, parents and others who have been impacted by gun violence and who are urging Congress to pass gun-control measures.
Andrew Ujifusa, March 7, 2018
3 min read
David Hogg, one of the student survivors from the Feb. 14 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, addresses a community rally in Livingston, N.J. On social media, television, and in rallies, Hogg and other students have made eloquent arguments for gun-control legislation.
David Hogg, one of the student survivors from the Feb. 14 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, addresses a community rally in Livingston, N.J. On social media, television, and in rallies, Hogg and other students have made eloquent arguments for gun-control legislation.
Rich Schultz/AP
School Climate & Safety Can the Parkland Survivors Inspire a New Focus on Civics Education?
Civics often takes a backseat in schools, but educators say the Marjory Stoneman Douglas students-turned-activists are setting a powerful model for civic engagement.
Stephen Sawchuk, March 2, 2018
8 min read
Federal Betsy DeVos in Florida: Arming Well-Trained Staff Should Be Option for Schools
U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos traveled to Parkland, Fla., Wednesday to meet with students and teachers at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, the site of a mass shooting last month that left 17 dead.
Alyson Klein, March 7, 2018
4 min read
Federal Trump Pushes to 'Harden' Schools Against Mass Shooters in Meeting With Lawmakers
President Donald Trump again lobbied for increased school security measures, including armed staff, in a meeting with congressional lawmakers from both parties on Wednesday.
Andrew Ujifusa, February 28, 2018
3 min read
A day after the Feb. 14 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman High School in Parkland, Fla., students grieve at a vigil for the 17 students and staff members who were killed.
A day after the Feb. 14 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman High School in Parkland, Fla., students grieve at a vigil for the 17 students and staff members who were killed.
Brynn Anderson/AP
School Climate & Safety Lost Sense of School as a Safe Place
After the Parkland school shooting, survivors and members of the community have dealt with wrenching questions about whether the attack could have been prevented.
Evie Blad, February 27, 2018
8 min read
Students are evacuated by police from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., Feb. 14, after a shooter opened fire on the campus.
Students are evacuated by police from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., Feb. 14, after a shooter opened fire on the campus.
Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP
School Climate & Safety A Florida City Forever Changed
The scene at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and the surrounding area after the shootings shifted from chaos and panic to grief, anger, and calls for swift and aggressive action to prevent other school attacks.
Evie Blad, February 27, 2018
5 min read
Marla Eveillard, 14, cries as she hugs friends before the start of a vigil at the Parkland Baptist Church for the victims of the mass shooting at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla.
Marla Eveillard, 14, cries as she hugs friends before the start of a vigil at the Parkland Baptist Church for the victims of the mass shooting at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla.
Gerald Herbert/AP
Federal These Are School Safety Bills Congress Can Already Vote on After Parkland
After the mass shooting at a Parkland, Fla. high school last week, many are wondering what lawmakers, including those on Capitol Hill, will do to address school shootings.
Andrew Ujifusa, February 26, 2018
3 min read
Education College Board Accused of Using Parkland Shootings for Self-Promotion
A letter from College Board President David Coleman about the Parkland school shootings has sparked anger and an apology.
Catherine Gewertz, February 22, 2018
4 min read
Protesters rally against gun violence on the steps of the old Florida Capitol in Tallahassee on Feb. 21, the one week anniversary of the deadly shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
Protesters rally against gun violence on the steps of the old Florida Capitol in Tallahassee on Feb. 21, the one week anniversary of the deadly shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
Mark Wallheiser/AP
School Climate & Safety 'Let the Youth Lead': Student Activists Nationwide Demand Change After Parkland Shooting
The upwelling of youth activism stands in stark contrast to that seen after previous school shootings, advocates and academics say, and could prove a powerful force in the gun control debate.
Arianna Prothero & Andrew Ujifusa, February 21, 2018
8 min read
School Climate & Safety After Shooting, Superintendent Calls for Review of Suspect's Education, Disciplinary History
Robert Runcie, the superintendent of the Broward County district recovering from a Feb. 14 school shooting, called for an independent review of the "educational record and the academic, social and emotional services" that accused gunman Nikolas Cruz received while he was a student.
Evie Blad, March 6, 2018
2 min read
School Climate & Safety After Parkland Shooting, Sen. Rubio Questions Obama-Era Guidance on School Arrests
Obama-era guidance that calls on schools not to rely on police to administer routine student discipline "may have contributed to systemic failures" to report a school shooting suspect's behavior to law enforcement, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., wrote in a letter to U.S. Secretary or Education Betsy DeVos and Attorney General Jeff Sessions Monday.
Evie Blad, March 6, 2018
6 min read
Police line a sidewalk as students head back to school at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., on Feb. 28 for the first time since a gunman killed 17 students at the school on Feb. 14.
Police line a sidewalk as students head back to school at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., on Feb. 28 for the first time since a gunman killed 17 students at the school on Feb. 14.
Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel via TNS
School Climate & Safety After Shooting, Tension Mounts Between Security Quick-Fixes and Long-Term Solutions
School district leaders must weigh costly measures like adding school police and installing metal detectors against considerations for students' civil rights and whether hiring a school counselor might achieve greater safety benefits.
Evie Blad, March 1, 2018
7 min read
Student survivors from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School participate in a rally for gun control reform on the steps of the state capitol, in Tallahassee, Fla., on Feb. 21.
Student survivors from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School participate in a rally for gun control reform on the steps of the state capitol, in Tallahassee, Fla., on Feb. 21.
Gerald Herbert/AP
School Climate & Safety Shooting Survivors Face Long Road to Recovery
Vigils, protests, and marches are helping the students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School channel their grief, experts say, but they’re just a start toward recovery.
Stephen Sawchuk & Evie Blad, February 27, 2018
5 min read
Federal Trump on Parkland Shooter: 'A Teacher Would Have Shot the Hell Out of Him'
President Donald Trump repeated his proposal to arm well-trained school staff to intervene in the event of a mass school shooting, earning roaring applause in a speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference.
Alyson Klein, February 23, 2018
3 min read
School Climate & Safety Parkland School Officer Took Position, But Didn't Enter Building During Shooting, Sheriff Says
The Broward County sheriff's deputy assigned to Stoneman Douglas High School took position outside of a building during the mass shooting there last week, but he never entered to try to stop the gunman, Sheriff Scott Israel said Thursday.
Evie Blad, February 22, 2018
1 min read
School Climate & Safety Fla. District Faces Barrage of Legal Issues in Wake of School Massacre
From liability and student privacy to the complexities of a deadly crime scene, legal officials in Broward County, Fla., will be consumed for months, if not years, with the aftermath of the fatal shooting.
Mark Walsh, February 22, 2018
7 min read
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.
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
School Climate & Safety Calls to Arm Teachers Meet Resistance From Parkland Educators, Leaders
Even before President Donald Trump proposed training and arming teachers in response to a mass shooting at a Parkland, Fla., high school, some teachers there said they wouldn't want to carry a weapon in their classrooms.
Evie Blad, February 22, 2018
6 min read
BRIC ARCHIVE
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School Climate & Safety Opinion It's Not Just About Guns. Male Aggression Is a Serious Problem
Putting a gun in the hands of an angry man is a recipe that will only lead to death, writes Patrick O’Connor.
Patrick O'Connor, February 22, 2018
3 min read
Tyra Hemans, 19, left, and Logan Locke, 17, right, students who survived the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, wait to board buses in Parkland, Fla., on Feb. 20, that will take them to the state capitol in Tallahassee, where they plan to lobby legislators for stricter gun control laws.
Tyra Hemans, 19, left, and Logan Locke, 17, right, students who survived the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, wait to board buses in Parkland, Fla., on Feb. 20, that will take them to the state capitol in Tallahassee, where they plan to lobby legislators for stricter gun control laws.
Gerald Herbert/AP
School Climate & Safety Opinion As Teachers, We Cannot Fix This Gun Mess. But Our Students Can, and We Can Help
A culture of violence and guns cannot be fixed in a moment, writes a 5th grade teacher. But by teaching young people to raise their voices, educators can help them create change.
Jess Lifshitz, February 21, 2018
4 min read
Federal Trump: Nation Should Consider Arming Teachers to Prevent School Shootings
President Donald Trump's comments came at a White House meeting where he heard the heartbreaking stories of school shooting survivors and of parents who have lost children in school massacres.
Alyson Klein, February 21, 2018
5 min read
A Honolulu police officer stands on the campus of Kapolei Middle School in Hawaii after a lockdown at the school on Feb. 16, days after the shooting in Parkland, Fla. The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported someone posted on social media that they planned to "shoot up" the middle school.
A Honolulu police officer stands on the campus of Kapolei Middle School in Hawaii after a lockdown at the school on Feb. 16, days after the shooting in Parkland, Fla. The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported someone posted on social media that they planned to "shoot up" the middle school.
Caleb Jones/AP
School Climate & Safety 'I Worry Every Day': Lockdown Drills Prompt Fear, Self-Reflection After School Shooting
Lockdown drills are ubiquitous in schools these days, but teachers say they’re especially unnerving in the wake of a horrific school shooting such as the one in Parkland, Fla.
Madeline Will, February 20, 2018
9 min read
School Climate & Safety After Parkland Shooting, Deputies in Broward County Schools Will Carry Rifles
Deputies who patrol Broward County, Fla., schools will carry AR-15 rifles, the same weapon that was used to carry out a mass shooting at one of the district's high schools last week, Sheriff Scott Israel said.
Evie Blad, February 21, 2018
2 min read
School Climate & Safety West Point Posthumously Admits School Shooting Victim Honored as Hero by Classmates
The military academy awarded a rare posthumous admission to Peter Wang, a Parkland JROTC member who died holding open a school door so his peers could escape.
Evie Blad, February 20, 2018
2 min read
An early morning fog rises where 17 memorial crosses were placed, for the 17 deceased students and faculty from the Feb. 14 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, in Parkland, Fla.
An early morning fog rises where 17 memorial crosses were placed, for the 17 deceased students and faculty from the Feb. 14 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, in Parkland, Fla.
Gerald Herbert/AP
School Climate & Safety For Parkland Students and Teachers, Wrenching Questions Surround Return to School
Teachers, parents, and students face a long and difficult recovery as they contemplate returning to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, where 17 students and educators were killed in last week's mass shooting.
Evie Blad, February 19, 2018
10 min read
School Climate & Safety 'We Will Get Through This Together': Principal Shares Emotional Message After School Shooting
"I will hug each and every one of you," Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Principal Ty Thompson said in a video message to students days after a school shooting at the Parkland, Fla., school.
Evie Blad, February 18, 2018
1 min read
Kashiya Biggs, 17, facing left, a student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, weeps with her friend, Lex Reynoso, 16, as the names of deceased victims are read during a candlelight vigil for the victims of the shooting at the school in Parkland, Fla., on Feb. 15.
Kashiya Biggs, 17, facing left, a student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, weeps with her friend, Lex Reynoso, 16, as the names of deceased victims are read during a candlelight vigil for the victims of the shooting at the school in Parkland, Fla., on Feb. 15.
Gerald Herbert/AP
School Climate & Safety Parkland Students Want to Know: Will the Shooting at Their School Change Gun Laws?
Grief and anger are driving students in Parkland, Fla., to ask tough questions of the adults responsible for protecting them.
Evie Blad, February 16, 2018
7 min read
Mourners gather at a candlelight vigil for the victims of the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla.
Mourners gather at a candlelight vigil for the victims of the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla.
Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times/TNS
School Climate & Safety Opinion Congress Has Failed Our Students on Gun Violence. What's Next?
Enough is enough. The U.S. Department of Education must take action on school safety, writes Deborah S. Delisle.
Deborah S. Delisle, February 16, 2018
4 min read
Students are evacuated by police from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., on Feb. 14 after a shooter opened fire on the campus, killing 17 and wounding many others.
Students are evacuated by police from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., on Feb. 14 after a shooter opened fire on the campus, killing 17 and wounding many others.
Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP
School Climate & Safety Explainer School Shootings: Five Critical Questions
An Education Week explainer on school shootings. This includes what counts as a school shooting and what can be done to prevent them.
Evie Blad, February 16, 2018
6 min read
Marla Eveillard, 14, cries as she hugs friends before the start of a vigil at the Parkland Baptist Church for the victims of the mass shooting at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla.
Marla Eveillard, 14, cries as she hugs friends before the start of a vigil at the Parkland Baptist Church for the victims of the mass shooting at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla.
Gerald Herbert/AP
School Climate & Safety 'I Didn't Want Them to Panic': Amid Chaos, Teacher Sheltered Students in Fla. School
The day after the nation’s third-deadliest school shooting, people questioned whether signs were missed that a troubled former student at a Parkland, Fla., high school posed such a significant threat.
Evie Blad, February 15, 2018
10 min read
Broward County Schools Superintendent Robert Runcie speaks during a news conference on Feb. 15, near Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., where 17 people were killed the day before in a mass shooting.
Broward County Schools Superintendent Robert Runcie speaks during a news conference on Feb. 15, near Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., where 17 people were killed the day before in a mass shooting.
Amy Beth Bennett/Sun Sentinel/TNS
School Climate & Safety Schools Chief Says No One Reported Alleged Shooter's Troubling Social Media Posts
Students said social media posts from the alleged school shooter were ominous, but school officials said the district never got reports that Nikolas Cruz was a serious threat to his former school.
Denisa R. Superville, February 15, 2018
5 min read
School Climate & Safety As Parkland Community Grieves, Experts Predict Long Road to Recovery
Broward County, Fla. faces the challenges of responding both to student trauma—and the longer-term grieving process.
Stephen Sawchuk, February 15, 2018
4 min read
Federal Trump Urges Focus on Mental Health After School Shootings, Offers No Specifics
In a televised address, President Donald Trump said he would work with state and local leaders to "tackle the difficult issue of mental health" after Wednesday's deadly shooting at a Florida school.
Alyson Klein & Andrew Ujifusa, February 15, 2018
7 min read
Classroom Technology School Shootings Now Unfold on Social Media. Here's What Educators Need to Know.
When terror strikes, social media can be used to share information, process grief, and re-traumatize victims. Experts say parents and educators can help.
Benjamin Herold, February 15, 2018
7 min read
Education Florida Shooting: Superintendent Has 'No Words That Can Describe the Heartache'
In an interview with Education Week, Broward County Schools Superintendent Robert Runcie expressed sadness over the shooting that killed at least 17 people at a high school in his district.
Denisa R. Superville, February 15, 2018
3 min read
Education In Wake of Parkland Shooting, Proposals for Arming Teachers Likely to Resurface
Policymakers have weighed arming teachers at school and training them to shoot back in case of emergency in the aftermath of school shootings like at Sandy Hook and now, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
Madeline Will, February 15, 2018
4 min read
Teaching Profession In Florida School Shooting, at Least 3 Educators Were Killed Protecting Students
Some of the 17 victims of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., were educators who died protecting their students.
Madeline Will, February 15, 2018
4 min read
Education Opinion A Teacher's Response to Parkland: 'I Don't Know How to Protect You Anymore'
How can I tell my students that while I'd move mountains for them, I know my body is just as feeble against bullets as theirs?
Christina Torres, February 14, 2018
3 min read
Following the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland Fla., earlier this week, law enforcement officers block the entrance to the school.
Following the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland Fla., earlier this week, law enforcement officers block the entrance to the school.
Wilfredo Lee/AP
School Climate & Safety Opinion Why Security Measures Won't Stop School Shootings
Research into school shootings finds that status and identity issues can contribute to students turning against their school community.
Bryan Warnick, Benjamin A. Johnson & Sam Rocha, February 14, 2018
5 min read
Elizabeth Acevedo and her son Andres, 3, wait for news of her son, Jose, an 8th grade student at the Belmont High School in Los Angeles, after a shooting inside the middle school on Feb. 1.
Elizabeth Acevedo and her son Andres, 3, wait for news of her son, Jose, an 8th grade student at the Belmont High School in Los Angeles, after a shooting inside the middle school on Feb. 1.
Damian Dovarganes/AP-File
School Climate & Safety Interactive School Shootings in 2018: How Many and Where
In 2018, there were 24 K-12 school shootings that killed or injured people. Our map and data table provide more details.
February 1, 2018
2 min read
Students protest on the floor of the Florida Capitol earlier this month to push for a ban on assault weapons.
Students protest on the floor of the Florida Capitol earlier this month to push for a ban on assault weapons.
Scott Keeler/The Tampa Bay Times via AP
School Climate & Safety Opinion Let Them March: Schools Should Not Censor Students
This week, as students walk out of school to advocate for school safety, they will be protected by the First Amendment, write two university professors.
Kathleen Bartzen Culver & Erica Salkin, March 9, 2018
4 min read
deadly school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
C.M. Guerro/The Miami Herald via AP
School Climate & Safety Opinion After Parkland, Where Do We Go From Here?
Education Week has rarely seen an event that has stirred readers quite like the deadly school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
March 1, 2018
9 min read
High school students rally at the Capitol in Washington on Feb. 21 in support of those affected at the Parkland High School shooting in Florida.
High school students rally at the Capitol in Washington on Feb. 21 in support of those affected at the Parkland High School shooting in Florida.
J. Scott Applewhite/AP
School Climate & Safety Opinion 'We Must Not Stand Idle': A Call to Action on Gun Control From Education Leaders
Student survivors of the Parkland shooting responded to the tragedy with a #NeverAgain campaign. We must join them, write 23 education leaders.
March 1, 2018
4 min read
To treat student trauma effectively and heal children’s brains and bodies, doctors and school communities must work together on solutions, says pediatrician Nadine Burke Harris.
Michael Winokur
Student Well-Being Opinion A Pediatrician's Advice for Treating Student Trauma
To treat student trauma effectively and heal children’s brains and bodies, doctors and school communities must work together, says pediatrician Nadine Burke Harris.
March 6, 2018
6 min read
Lobbyists and attorneys listen as student survivors from the Feb. 14 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School interrupt a house legislative committee hearing in the hope to challenge lawmakers on gun control reform in Tallahassee, Fla., on Feb. 21.
Lobbyists and attorneys listen as student survivors from the Feb. 14 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School interrupt a house legislative committee hearing in the hope to challenge lawmakers on gun control reform in Tallahassee, Fla., on Feb. 21.
Gerald Herbert/AP
School Climate & Safety Opinion Parkland's Student Activists Are Getting a Powerful Civics Lesson
The surviving students of the Parkland shooting have turned grief into action by entering the gun control debate. Teachers should take note, writes educator Jennifer Gunn.
Jennifer L.M. Gunn, March 2, 2018
4 min read