Arrested Learning: A Survey of Youth Experiences of Police and Security at School

There is evidence that placing law enforcement in schools increases referrals to the criminal legal system. The presence of law enforcement makes it more likely that students of color will be arrested for low-level offenses, and increases the formal processing of exclusionary disciplinary responses. This report outlines the results of a survey conducted to reveal students’ experiences, interactions, and feelings about police and security at school, and their vision for supportive and well-resourced schools. Results show that police and security at schools do not make students feel safe, and that students value more support and resources over police and security. This report also features transformative, anti-racist policies that would dismantle the school-to-prison-and-deportation pipeline and guides school districts towards more inclusive learning environments.