ERIC Number: ED619341
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2021-Jun
Pages: 84
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Review of the WCPSS School Resource Officer Program
Stephens, Sonya; Scrimgeour, Meghan; Huang, Haigen; Gilleland, Kevin
Wake County Public School System
In response to inquiries about the roles of School Resource Officers (SROs), the Wake County Public School System (WCPSS) conducted a review of the SRO program using data from several sources: SRO referral and incident data; a survey of WCPSS students, staff, and members of the community; and data from focus groups. Two major themes emerged from the review: equity and the use of a law enforcement officer in an SRO role. While student incidents and number of referrals have been trending down overall since 2017-18, disproportionality in referrals remains a concern particularly for Black/African American and Hispanic/Latino students. Referrals have also shifted toward less punitive consequences over the past few years. Data from focus group discussions indicated some participants also felt that the disproportionate impact on students of color points to a need for change in the SRO program. Survey results showed positive perceptions of SROs, although some respondents indicated a need to reduce ambiguity in SROs roles (e.g., increase awareness of the role and function of SROs, etc.). Survey respondents also indicated a need for SROs to receive more training on working in a school environment. Respondents were in agreement that school administrators should have more say about which SROs are assigned to their schools. However, some participants in the parent/community members focus group felt that sworn law enforcement officers (i.e., SROs) should not have a role in schools. Like survey respondents, focus group participants mentioned a lack of definition and clear communication about the SRO role; this insufficiency might be driving the negative and ambiguous responses on SROs in the survey data. Participants in the focus groups indicated WCPSS has missed opportunities of intentionally building positive relationships between SROs and stakeholders.
Descriptors: County School Districts, Public Schools, Police, Police School Relationship, School Safety, Equal Education, Law Enforcement, Incidence, Referral, Disproportionate Representation, African American Students, Hispanic American Students, Discipline, Police Education, Training, Administrator Role, Parent Attitudes, High Schools, Middle Schools, Personnel Selection
Wake County Public School System. 5625 Dillard Drive, Cary, NC 27518. Tel: 919-431-7215; Fax: 919-431-7193; e-mail: wcpss-data-accountability@wcpss.net; Web site: www.wcpss.net
Publication Type: Reports - Evaluative; Numerical/Quantitative Data
Education Level: High Schools; Secondary Education; Junior High Schools; Middle Schools
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: Wake County Public School System (WCPSS), Data, Research, and Accountability Department
Identifiers - Location: North Carolina
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A