No More School Resource Officers: Using School Participatory Budgeting to Reimagine High School Safety Programs

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session 6
  In Roundtable Session: Advancing Educational Change at the State and Local Levels

Abstract

Amidst civil unrest and discussions on defunding the police, school districts began to examine school resource officers’ presence on campuses. In summer 2020, one large metropolitan district decided not to renew its $3.6 contract with the local police department and reallocated funds to a democratic process called School Participatory Budgeting (SPB). Students, parents/guardians, and staff participated in the SPB process by ideating school safety alternatives, developing proposals, and voting on options to implement. Researchers used a mixed methods approach to assess the program-level implementation, the participant-level perceived changes, and the school community-level impact of the process and outcomes. This study is the first large-scale deliberation on school safety and provides an example for other districts interested in implementing similar initiatives.

Authors

• Tara Lynn Bartlett, Arizona State University - Tempe

• Marisol Juarez Diaz, Arizona State University

• Lara Law, Arizona State University

• Daniel Schugurensky, Arizona State University

• WENDY WOLFERSTEIG, Arizona State University