Every child deserves to be safe at school. For many students in special-education classrooms, safety protections are even more critical. Some students are non-verbal, have limited communication abilities, or may not fully understand when something inappropriate has happened. Because of this, many cannot report abuse, explain incidents clearly, or advocate for themselves.

Recent events in Spokane have deeply shaken families and highlighted the need for stronger safeguards to protect our most vulnerable students. While the vast majority of educators are dedicated professionals who care deeply for their students, additional transparency measures can help ensure that every classroom remains a safe environment for both students and staff.

We are asking Spokane Public Schools to adopt a district-wide policy allowing safety cameras in special-education classrooms with appropriate privacy protections.

Why this matters

Many students in special-education programs rely completely on adults to keep them safe. When a child cannot verbally communicate what happened or may not understand that something inappropriate occurred, it can make detecting abuse or mistreatment extremely difficult. Cameras can provide an additional layer of protection and accountability while also protecting educators by documenting what actually occurs in the classroom.

We respectfully request that the district implement a policy that includes:

• Video cameras in special-education classrooms to help protect vulnerable students
• Cameras placed only in instructional areas and never in bathrooms or changing areas
• Video recording only (no audio) to help protect privacy
• Secure storage of footage for a limited time period
• Access restricted to a designated safety review team such as school administrators or district safety staff
• Footage reviewed only when a safety concern, complaint, or incident occurs
• Parents allowed to request that footage involving their child be reviewed if there is a concern

These safeguards help balance transparency with privacy while ensuring that cameras are used only for the purpose of protecting students and staff.

Our goal is not to create distrust, but to ensure that students—especially those who cannot advocate for themselves—have the protections they deserve while at school.

We urge district leaders to work with parents, educators, and the community to implement policies that prioritize the safety of vulnerable students.

We NEED to protect our most vulnerable. Please sign and share this petition to support stronger protections for students in special-education classrooms in Spokane.  Together we can help ensure every child learns in a safe and supportive environment.