Essential education reporting across America

Gun Violence and Schools

Police officers in uniform outside a school building, next to a tree.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Gun Violence and Schools
Shooter kills three children at Nashville private church school
The shooter, 28, was armed with rifles and was killed by police.
By Marta W. Aldrich, Laura Testino, and 1 more
 
High school students dressed in red gather in front of the Colorado State Capitol. One sign emerges from the crowd reading “G(UN)SAFE Enough is Enough.” Downtown office buildings can be seen in the background.
From Chalkbeat Colorado Gun Violence and Schools
As Colorado reels from another school shooting, study finds 1 in 4 teens have quick access to guns
Healthy Kids Colorado survey finds that a quarter of youth say they could get access to a loaded gun within 24 hours. Most teen gun deaths are suicides.
By Markian Hawryluk
 
Police cars and ambulances are parked close together in front of Denver’s East High School.
From Chalkbeat Colorado Chalkbeat En Español
Policía regresa a escuelas de Denver
La decisión se produjo un día después del tiroteo contra dos administradores en la Denver East High School.
By Jason Gonzales and Erica Meltzer
 
Police cars and ambulances are parked close together in front of Denver’s East High School.
From Chalkbeat Colorado School safety
Denver board lifts ban on police on campus
The board decision comes after Superintendent Alex Marrero’s pledge to return police to campus. The shooting of two East High administrators shifted the debate on police in Denver schools.
By Jason Gonzales and Erica Meltzer
 
At least three police officers in uniform stand in a parking lot talking to two others. A white car is in the foreground.
School safety School safety
Denver schools are bringing back police. Other places in the U.S. already have.
“It makes sense that communities are really struggling following incidents like this — they are traumatic and scary,” said one advocate from a nonprofit that has called for the removal of police.
By Kalyn Belsha
 
East High School and the surrounding campus full of police vehicles is seen from a distance.
From Chalkbeat Colorado Gun Violence and Schools
Denver cancels classes Friday after East High shooting
Superintendent Alex Marrero said a day off from school would give students and staff time to process events.
By Erica Meltzer
 
Addison Goetz, 17, is embraced by her mother Jennifer as they leave Denver’s East High School after a shooting there on Wednesday, March 22, 2023.
From Chalkbeat Colorado Gun Violence and Schools
East High shooting prompts fear, frustration, and calls for action in Denver
Parents and students say they are numb and frustrated after the shooting of two deans at East High School. It was the third shooting this school year at or near Denver’s largest high school.
By Melanie Asmar and Erica Meltzer
 
A group of men in suits and one in police dress uniform speak at a press conference. They are outside with a podium and microphones set up in front of them. East High School is visible behind them.
From Chalkbeat Colorado Denver Public Schools
After East High shooting, Denver superintendent commits to return police to comprehensive high schools
“I can no longer stand on the sidelines,” Marrero wrote in a letter to the school board, which banned police from schools in 2020.
By Melanie Asmar
 
The outside of East High School. It is a stately brick building with lots of windows and a clocktower.
From Chalkbeat Colorado Chalkbeat En Español
Cumbre en la East High: los estudiantes buscan soluciones a la violencia con armas de fuego
Los panelistas en un foro de prevención de la violencia en la secundaria East High sugirieron que hubiese más servicios de salud mental para los estudiantes junto con leyes más estrictas de control de armas.
By Melanie Asmar
 
A group of children ski across a snowy landscape.
From Chalkbeat Colorado Gun Violence and Schools
Social emotional learning hits the slopes after hoax swatting threats put students on edge
On three Wednesdays in a row, hoax swatting threats kept these Aspen students in their classrooms. On the fourth Wednesday, teachers called a ski day.
By Eleanor Bennett
 
Gov. Josh Shapiro in a blue suit and white shirt talks to a group of high school students in a classroom.
From Chalkbeat Philadelphia Gun Violence and Schools
Philadelphia students press governor on his school safety proposal to hire more police
During a high school visit, Gov. Josh Shapiro also discussed his plans to hire more teachers and increase education spending in his proposed budget.
By Dale Mezzacappa and Carly Sitrin
 
The back of a yellow school bus sits next to the back of a white police van.
From Chalkbeat New York School safety
School safety agent numbers dropped during the pandemic. NYC doesn’t plan to staff back up.
The move is a victory for advocates who have pushed to reduced police presence in schools, but it won mixed reactions from educators and union officials.
By Alex Zimmerman
 
Illustration of guns.
From Chalkbeat Chicago Gun Violence and Schools
Pandemic stress, gangs, and utter fear fueled a rise in teen shootings
The number of children under 18 who killed someone with a firearm jumped from 836 in 2019 to 1,150 in 2020.
By Liz Szabo, Kaiser Health News
 
Students dressed in red gather in front of the Colorado State Capitol. There’s a large crowd of young people. Classical columns rise before them. One sign held aloft reads “Luis Garcia #11.”
From Chalkbeat Colorado Chalkbeat En Español
Estudiantes de East High marchan contra la violencia armada tras la muerte de Luis García
Los estudiantes piden a los legisladores que hagan más para restringir el acceso a las armas.
By Erica Meltzer
 
People participate in a demonstration to seek age raise for AR-15 sales in Austin, Texas, the United States, Aug. 27, 2022.
From Chalkbeat Colorado First Person
I train future teachers. Gun violence has them on edge.
They ask themselves, ‘Would I be able to step in front of a gun for my students?’
By Deena Gumina
 
The outside of East High School. It is a stately brick building with lots of windows and a clocktower.
From Chalkbeat Colorado Gun Violence and Schools
East High students seek solutions to gun violence at summit
“We shouldn’t have to be here,” East Students Demand Action member Gracie Taub told the crowd. “Luis should be here.”
By Melanie Asmar
 
A logo bears the words “Memphis Shelby County Schools”
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Gun Violence and Schools
Memphis Shelby County Schools proposes $6.3 million in spending for security upgrades
A pair of contracts for new cameras, alarm systems, and wiring await board approval.
By Tonyaa Weathersbee
 
A man wearing a suit stands at a podium and speaks into a microphone.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee School safety
Tennessee governor’s safety bill threatens penalties for schools if they don’t lock entrances
State inspections found 527 unlocked doors so far this school year.
By Marta W. Aldrich
 
Students dressed in red gather in front of the Colorado State Capitol. There’s a large crowd of young people. Classical columns rise before them. One sign held aloft reads “Luis Garcia #11.”
From Chalkbeat Colorado Gun Violence and Schools
After Luis Garcia’s death, East High students call on lawmakers to do more to stop gun violence
Luis was the second student shot near East High this school year. Students say they’re angry, sad, and tired.
By Erica Meltzer
 
The outside of East High School. It is a stately brick building with lots of windows and a clocktower.
From Chalkbeat Colorado School safety
16-year-old Denver East High student shot outside the school has died, police said
Luis Garcia was shot on Feb. 13. No one has been charged with the crime.
By Melanie Asmar
 
A student wearing a brown hooded sweater and black jeans and black shoes walks next to another student with short hair and a red and black sweater.
From Chalkbeat Philadelphia Gun Violence and Schools
Safe Place: How Philly schools are responding to the city’s gun violence crisis
Superintendent Tony Watlington says educators must be key partners in addressing the problem.
By Aubri Juhasz, WHYY and Sammy Caiola, WHYY
 
A Black man in a police uniform looks out of a school door that he’s holding slightly ajar. On the right side of the image, there’s colorful paper with labels attached that read: Empathy, Accountability, Dynamic Community, and Equity.
From Chalkbeat Colorado School safety
Gun violence is rising. Two leaders say Denver schools and police need a new relationship.
“This is getting away from an oppressive policing model to a more liberatory relationship-centered model among students and adults who happen to be police officers.”
By Melanie Asmar
 
The curved facade of Brooklyn High School for Excellence and Equity in Canarsie. There is an NYPD van parked outside, as well as a standard silver SUV.
From Chalkbeat New York School safety
NYC principals to meet weekly with NYPD to address after-school violence
Schools Chancellor David Banks has been raising the alarm about the recent spate of killings and shootings involving young people, calling it a “state of emergency” that requires more intervention.
By Michael Elsen-Rooney and Amy Zimmer
 
The outside of East High School. It is a stately brick building with lots of windows and a clocktower.
From Chalkbeat Colorado Gun Violence and Schools
East High student seriously injured in shooting near school, classes canceled Tuesday
Superintendent Alex Marrero has called gun violence a top concern.
By Melanie Asmar
 
A student at her locker in a hallway at North-Grand High School in Chicago. Photo by Stacey Rupolo / Chalkbeat —May, 2019 photo—
First Person First Person
For teachers and students, safe classrooms feel like a fairy tale
On my drive to work, I used to mentally rehearse my lesson plans. Now I rehearse the ‘run, hide, fight’ protocol.
By Alicia Wein
 
A woman sits in a blue chair; in the background, a wall mural says “mental health matters”
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Campaigns and elections
MSCS board member Michelle McKissack sees a chance to change schools from the outside
Mayoral hopeful sees herself as a leader who can get district, city, and county to work together
By Samantha West
 
Dr. Alex Marrero, wearing glasses and a blue checkered suit jacket, makes a speech outdoors at a wooden podium.
From Chalkbeat Colorado Gun Violence and Schools
As more guns are found in Denver schools, Superintendent Alex Marrero says it’s his top concern
‘This is, pardon the pun, a ticking time bomb,’ Marrero said.
By Melanie Asmar
 
Four state police officers in bulletproof vests walk through a locker-lined school corridor with guns drawn during active-shooter training.
From Chalkbeat Detroit School safety
Remembering Oxford: Michigan’s newly empowered Democrats look to gun control as a school safety strategy
Plans would go beyond task force’s recommendations, which center on mental health and building security
By Tracie Mauriello
 
Signs mentioning Brandon Perez and Nathan Billegas hang on the wall. On the ground, there are balloons, candles, and flowers for a memorial to the two students at Benito Juarez High School in Chicago.
From Chalkbeat Chicago Gun Violence and Schools
‘Still processing’: Juarez students, staff return to class after shooting outside school
On Monday, Benito Juarez students and staff returned to class after the fatal shooting of Brandon Perez and Nathan Billegas outside of school. Students led a walkout and march to protest gun violence and to honor both student victims.
By Samantha Smylie
 
A close of image of a yellow high school locker with a blue pad lock.
From Chalkbeat Chicago Gun Violence and Schools
Police, district leaders ‘searching for answers’ after shooting leaves 2 dead, 2 wounded outside Chicago school
District leaders and police officers are investigating the shooting that happened during dismissal Friday. Chicago Public Schools plans to dispatch crisis counselors on Monday to students and staff.
By Mauricio Peña
 
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