Issue Position: School Safety

Issue Position

Every student deserves a school that provides a safe, welcoming, and nurturing environment. A positive school climate has been shown to increase student achievement and decrease the chances of students suffering harm from threats or hazards. As legislators, it is our responsibility to provide a framework for these safe learning environments within our schools so teachers and students can focus on what is truly important: learning.

In 2014, I was appointed to Governor Patrick's Task Force on School Safety and Security, charged with compiling best practices and policies and making recommendations to help schools prevent, prepare for, respond to and recover from an emergency. After hearing from teachers, law enforcement and experts from a variety of fields, I filed legislation that encourages Massachusetts schools to implement a flexible framework that is proven to foster a safer and more supportive school environment by addressing mental health issues and training within our schools, and allowing school faculty to better identify and work with at-risk individuals.

This bill was ultimately included in a Gun Safety Bill signed into law by Governor Patrick in 2014 that was designed to combat gun violence and suicide in our schools and communities. Also included in this omnibus legislation was a Safe and Supportive Schools Grant program to fund exemplary schools that serve as models for creating nurturing educational environments. I am very proud of this safe and supportive schools framework and grant program, and in my role as Vice Chair of Senate Ways and Means, I will continue to advocate for funding to ensure that our students have safe, healthy, and positive learning environments.

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