— In Virginia, United States Court of Appeals, reversed a judgment against a student who was sexually assaulted by another student and remanded the case for a new trial. The Title IX case alleged that the school acted with deliberate indifference to the situation. The jury found that the school had no notice. On appeal, the court ruled that the findings of the jury ignored the evidence, e.g., written statements by the victim and the victim’s mother, as well reports from other students. Doe v. Fairfax County School Board
— In Florida, students and parents in Osceola County are adjusting to the removal of police officers from their schools. Private security company employees are being trained to perform the role that state law requires to make them “school guardians.” The officers undergo 104 hours of firearms training and 16 hours of human diversity instruction. Some parents believe “[i]t’s better to have an officer,” because the guardian training is deficient in “how to relate to students, to detect signs of mental and behavioral stress, and to de-escalate student conflicts.”
— The results of a study conducted by scholars from Boston University, the University of Colorado Boulder and Harvard University found a causal link exists between students who experience strict school discipline and being arrested or incarcerated as an adult. Their data identifies school administrators, who control the suspension and expulsion of students, as the “major driver” in the frequency and severity of school discipline.
— In Illinois, officials in the City of Elgin are implementing a program designed to keep local youth from getting involved with gangs and violence. In a collaboration of schools, police, community organizations, faith groups and volunteer mentors, the program will train young people in the habits of making positive choices.