School & Campus Safety Task Force Update

Without a doubt, we have seen terribly tragic school violence here in our commonwealth and across the nation. As a result of efforts that began in 2018, we have taken steps to strengthen school safety by making our schools more secure and our students more resilient.

One of the many things we accomplished in the 2023 session was passing House Bill 538 into law, the discipline bill, to make our schools safer, and which will facilitate better learning in the classroom.

However, we know there is far more work to be done. This interim the School and Campus Safety Task Force is working to identify areas that need improvement. We know the importance of school resource officers (SRO). SROs can prevent and respond to school-based crime, help create a positive relationship between schools, students, and local law enforcement, and help to promote a positive and safe school environment. Not only do SROs help promote safety in schools, but they can be a resource to both counsel and mentor students. During the 2022 Session we passed House Bill 63, which requires an SRO in every public school across the commonwealth, and during the 2023 session, we passed House Bill 540, which allows private and parochial schools to contract with law enforcement, so the option is available to them as well.