Changes in Teacher Perceptions of School Resource Officers From 2019 to 2021

• In Event: School Safety and Discipline: Novel Research Findings

Abstract

The presence of school resource officers (SROs) in our nation’s schools is under intense debate and has largely neglected teacher perspectives. This study investigated middle school teacher perceptions of SROs in 2019-2020 and 2021-2022. Each year, the sample consisted of more than 10,000 teacher responses to a statewide school climate survey from 390 middle schools. In both years, more than 85% of teachers reported the SRO makes them feel safer and makes a positive contribution. There was no school-level change in perceptions that the SRO makes teachers feel safe and a statistically positive increase in perceptions that the SRO makes a positive contribution. These results contribute a teacher perspective that should be considered in policy debates over SROs in schools.

Authors

• Jennifer L. Maeng, University of Virginia
  Presenting Author

• Dewey G. Cornell, University of Virginia
  Presenting Author

• Francis H. Lim Huang, University of Missouri
  Presenting Author