A new analysis of federal civil rights data by Education Week finds black students are more likely to attend schools with police officers present, and three times more likely to be arrested on campus than their white peers. In St. Paul, Minn., a series of violent incidents prompted efforts to improve school climate by changing its school police officers’ approach. The district has revamped its school policing program to focus less on enforcement and more on student relationships.
In this segment for the PBS NewsHour, Education Week correspondent Kavitha Cardoza speaks with St. Paul district administrators, students, and police to get the scoop on what they’ve changed, and whether it’s working.
For a quick overview of the issue, check out the video below. Education Week reporter Evie Blad delves into the data and elaborates on the debate surrounding the presence of police officers in schools.
Related Stories:
- Policing America’s Schools: An Education Week Analysis
- She Recorded Her Classmate’s Arrest, Then Got Arrested, Too
- Which Students are Arrested the Most? (U.S. Data by School)
- Impact of School Police: Many Unanswered Questions
For more video, check out the EdWeek Video Gallery.