— In Washington D.C., the Department of Justice announced it has awarded more than $87 million to bolster school security, support first responders who arrive on the scene of a school incident, and conduct research on school safety. The STOP School Violence Act (H.R.4909), authorized the Justice Department to create a series of grant award programs under a School Violence Prevention Program.
— In Ohio, the Ohio Department of Public Safety has a hotline for student safety threats which can be used even as many students studying remotely. The Safer Ohio School Tip Line is offered by the Ohio School Safety Center. It is monitored on a 24-hour basis and allows students and adults to anonymously share information about threats to student safety.
— In South Carolina, the South Carolina Education Superintendent announced that $33 million in personal protective equipment is being distributed to all public school districts. The supplies include masks, gloves, wipes, hand sanitizer, face shields, cleaning solution, plexiglass and other cleaning equipment and supplies.
— In Pennsylvania, the New Kensington Arnold Education Association, the union representing teachers is blowing the whistle on school district COVID-19 policies after a teacher reported that safety protocols were not being observed. Among the complaints is a statement by the Acting Superintendent that “health takes a close second” to education.