Armed Personnel in Pre-K–12 Public Schools: A Statewide Report on Prevalence, Policies, and Practices

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence, policies, and practices of armed personnel in Ohio P-12 public schools. The researchers created a 24-item questionnaire on the prevalence, policies, and practices for the utilization of armed personnel in the schools. The majority of the 206 superintendent participants confirmed the use of armed personnel in their schools primarily for school safety. Ohio schools contain armed personnel that range from superintendents to custodians, who use a variety of weapons, and are guided by a plethora of policies (and in 33% of surveyed districts, no policy at all); policies that are shared with only approximately half of teachers and less than half of parents and caregivers and the public.

Authors

• Nicole V. Schilling, The University of Findlay

• John C. Gillham, The University of Findlay

• Jonathan David Woodward, University of Findlay

• Kristie Marie Fetty, The University of Findlay