As parents, guardians, and community members in Islip, our primary concern is the safety and well-being of our children. Recent discussions regarding the introduction of armed guards into our schools have raised significant concerns. According to empirical research, having armed guards or School Resource Officers (SROs) on school campuses, especially in suburban and public school settings like ours, has been shown to lead to adverse outcomes. Rather than creating a safer educational environment, their presence can inadvertently increase exclusionary discipline practices, heighten law enforcement contact, and escalate student anxiety.

These outcomes do more than just disrupt a child's school day; they have far-reaching consequences. Exclusionary discipline, such as suspensions or expulsions, can curtail a student's time in an educational setting, directly impacting their academic performance. Moreover, the increased contact with law enforcement, which may arise from having armed personnel on-site, can expose students to the justice system unnecessarily, compromising their prospects for the future.

There is also a profound impact on a child's emotional well-being. Experiencing heightened anxiety in a place where they should feel secure and supported can undermine their mental health, leading to long-term developmental harms. These harms include diminished academic success, emotional distress, and potentially a greater likelihood of encountering the justice system. We must ask ourselves: Is this the environment we wish to cultivate for our children?

To truly ensure the safety of our schools, we propose alternative measures that have been proven effective without introducing the risks associated with firearms in schools. Increased funding for mental health resources, enhanced training programs for educators to identify and address potential threats, and the implementation of non-invasive security measures such as secured entry points and emergency response training can provide a safer and more supportive learning environment.

We owe it to our children to make an informed decision, guided by evidence and best practices that prioritize their well-being. By opposing the introduction of armed guards in Islip schools, we champion a future where children can learn fearlessly and thrive academically and emotionally.

Please sign this petition to prevent the introduction of armed guards in our schools, ensuring a safe and nurturing environment for every child in Islip. Stand with us in advocating for evidence-based safety measures that protect and uplift our students.

The Data against Armed Security 

Potential Harms & Concerns: Armed Guards in Schools

1. No Clear Reduction in Fatalities from School Shootings

o Analysis of 133 school shootings from 1980–2019 found that armed guards did not reduce rates of injury or death. In fact, schools with armed guards sometimes had higher average fatalities. This suggests that the presence of guards is not a reliably effective deterrent.
The Trace https://www.thetrace.org/2023/08/guns-armed-guards-school-shootings/

2. Increased Discipline and Criminalization

o Schools with armed resource officers often show higher rates of arrests, suspensions, referrals to law enforcement, especially for relatively minor disciplinary issues. Many students end up in exclusionary discipline or school-to-prison track outcomes. The presence of armed security tends to shift behavior management from educational support to law enforcement.

Urban Institute+2National Institute of Justice+2 https://www.urban.org/research/publication/unequal-exposure-school-resource-officers-student-race-ethnicity-and-income

3. Disproportionate Impacts on Students of Color

o Research shows that Black and Latinx students are disproportionately exposed to SRO presence in schools. These students also face higher rates of suspension and arrest under school security regimes. In many cases, disparities in discipline correlate with racial composition and income.

Urban Institute+2National Institute of Justice+2 4. 5. https://www.urban.org/research/publication/unequal-exposure-school-resource-officers-student-race-ethnicity-and-income

4. Negative Effects on School Climate and Perceptions of Safety

o The visible presence of armed guards or officers may increase feelings of anxiety, alienation, or distrust among students rather than safety. A policing atmosphere can undermine supportive relationships between students and staff. It can make the school feel less like a learning environment and more like a controlled, surveillance-driven space.

Office of Justice

Programs+2The Trace+2 https://www.ojp.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/305085.pdf

5. Role Ambiguity, Inconsistent Training, and Risk of Misuse

o Studies highlight that School Resource Officers often have unclear or overlapping roles: sometimes they are expected to do disciplinary tasks, sometimes security, often without consistent policies. With inadequate or non-specialized training, opportunities for misuse of authority, bias in enforcement, or escalation are higher.

 National Institute of Justice+1

https://www.ojp.gov/ncjrs/virtual-library/abstracts/why-and-when-do-school-resource-officers-engage-school-discipline

Implications / Recommendations for the Board

• Any decision to deploy armed guards should include clear role definitions (what they are and are not responsible for).

• Require robust, specialized training in adolescent development, de-escalation, trauma responsiveness, implicit bias, mental health and cultural competency.

• Track data systematically: discipline referrals, arrests, suspensions, particularly disaggregated by race, gender, and disability status.

• Consider non-security alternatives or complements: more counselors or social workers, threat assessment teams, restorative justice programs, and positive behavioral supports.

• Assess impact on student well-being and perceptions of safety periodically—surveys, focus groups etc.—to measure climate effects, not only incidents.

Empirical research on developmental risks of armed guards and SROs in schools overview:

Empirical research has shown that the presence of armed guards or School Resource Officers (SROs) in schools — especially suburban and public settings — can increase exclusionary discipline, law enforcement contact, and student anxiety. These outcomes have documented links to long-term developmental harms including poorer academic performance, reduced emotional well-being, and increased justice system involvement.

1. Increases in Exclusionary Discipline:

Studies consistently find higher rates of suspensions, expulsions, and arrests in schools that employ SROs.

• Fisher & Hennessy (2016) conducted a meta-analysis showing that SRO introduction often increases disciplinary actions.

• Urban Institute (2023) found schools with SROs report higher incidents of offenses and law enforcement referrals, disproportionately affecting minority and low-income students.

2. Impact on School Climate and Mental Health:

Visible armed presence can increase student anxiety and reduce feelings of safety for some children

(RAND, 2024). Research indicates that perceived surveillance and policing can undermine trust between students and educators, leading to disengagement.

• RAND (2024) review: SROs have limited evidence of improving safety but significant evidence of worsened school climate.

• Bureau of Justice Statistics (2023) reported that SROs often engage in enforcement activities without sufficient school oversight.

3. Developmental Consequences via Exclusionary Discipline:

Suspensions and arrests during childhood and adolescence are correlated with lower test scores, increased grade repetition, depressive symptoms, and higher likelihood of later justice system involvement.

• LiCalsi et al. (AIR, 2021) and longitudinal studies (2024–2025) demonstrate that exclusionary discipline has lasting negative effects on academic and social development.

4. Equity and Disproportionate Harm:

Black, Latinx, and low-income students experience greater exposure to SROs and are more likely to face harsh consequences (Urban Institute, 2023).

5. Summary:

Empirical evidence supports a clear developmental risk pathway: SRO presence → increased exclusionary discipline → academic, emotional, and social harms.

Even where safety benefits are minimal or unproven, these negative developmental outcomes are consistently observed across studies.

Key References:

• Fisher, B. W., & Hennessy, E. A. (2016). *School Resource Officers and Exclusionary Discipline: A

Meta-analysis.

• Urban Institute (Kidane & Rauscher, 2023). *Unequal Exposure to School Resource Officers.

• Bureau of Justice Statistics (2023). *School Resource Officers, 2019–2020.

• RAND (2024). *The Role and Impact of School Resource Officers.

• LiCalsi et al. (2021). *AIR NYC Discipline Study