The Dignity in Schools Campaign (DSC) is a national coalition of 92 organizations from 24 states dedicated to uplifting the human right of every child to a quality education and to be treated with dignity. DSC works to end push out of students from schools through overly punitive discipline practices.  We call on organizations and individuals throughout the country to join us in asking the President and Congress to act to end the 1033 Program's lending of military weapons to law enforcement working in K-12 public schools.  

The Department of Defense's 1033 Program, administered by the Defense Logistics Agency, lends surplus military equipment--including weapons--to local law enforcement agencies.  The 1033 Program also lends military equipment, such as grenade launchers, Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles, and high-powered rifles (M-16s and AR-15s) to law enforcement for use in K-12 public schools. 

A sampling of school districts participating in the 1033 program include: California (Baldwin Park; Oakland Unified; Los Angeles Unified; Stockton Unified; San Diego Unified); Florida (Washington; Bay; Palm Beach County); Georgia (Fulton County; Dooly County); Kansas (Auburn Washburn); Michigan (Detroit; Schoolcraft) Nevada (Washoe County); Texas (Ector County; Ennis; Spring Branch; Frenship; Aledo; Edinburg; San Antonio; Trinity; Beaumont); and Utah (Granite).

The justification of such weaponry for school safety only confuses school safety with school discipline, as police in schools are often used to handle minor discipline matters. We have already seen instances of excessive use of force by school police with gear like tasers and pepper spray, resulting in injuries to students, such as Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). The introduction of military-grade weapons only worsens increasingly tense school climates without increasing school safety.

Arming school police with military-grade weapons and gear creates the potential to contribute to climates that students of color already disproportionately experience as hostile, normalizes the criminalization of youth, and worsens educational outcomes, without any public safety benefits.

We urge individuals and organizations from around the country to join this petition asking the President and Congress to act to end the 1033 Program's lending of military weapons for use in K-12 schools.

Immediate action is needed to remove these weapons from our nation's schools and to instead fund and implement proven solutions to improve school climates and safety.