TxState School-based Law Enforcement Study - Year 1 Student Impacts

• In Event: School Police and Student Experiences in Central Texas – Findings from a School Safety Study

Abstract

Given the exponential increase in police presence in schools over the past several years, there is still little known about “what works” concerning school-based law enforcement. Much of the extant literature lacks rigorous research methodologies and provides mixed conclusions about the impact of school-based law enforcement programs on student outcomes. Of equal concern is the absence of an evidence-based framework for integrating law enforcement officers into educational environments. The collaboration between a practitioner-focused research and training center (Texas School Safety Center) and two experienced external evaluators (WestEd and Texas State University) presents a unique opportunity to conduct a cluster-randomized controlled trial in 24 campuses across six neighboring school districts in central Texas. Over two full school years, treatment schools are guided by the Texas School Safety Center using a comprehensive, research-based framework for implementing their school-based law enforcement program, while control schools continue as normal. The framework involves setting tailored goals, including all stakeholders in decision-making, training officers and school staff, and using data-driven decision making to make program adjustments and solve problems. The current paper examines the initial post-treatment student-level measures of school climate, including delinquency and victimization, and school discipline following the initial implementation year.

Authors

• Alexis Stern, WestEd

• Trevor Fronius, WestEd

• Hannah Persson, WestEd

• Sarah Guckenburg, WestEd

• Anthony Petrosino, WestEd