EVERY CHILD SHOULD FEEL SAFE in school. Fear of violence should not intrude on learning. Governor Locke is working to ensure that school is a place to learn, not a place to fear.
“It isn't just the violence, but the threat of violence in schools that we must address. How can we expect our children to learn if they are afraid for their very safety in our schools?” Governor Gary Locke |
School violence tragedies send the frightening message that no school is immune to these horrible events. But if students, parents, school officials, and law enforcement have the tools, and if they work together, schools can be much safer, and students can feel secure enough to focus on learning.
In 1998, Governor Locke and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Terry Bergeson convened a Youth Safety Summit.
More than 400 students, parents, educators, law enforcement officers, and community leaders discussed what is needed to make schools safer. They recommended ways to prevent violence in schools and improve youth safety, focusing on what people can do together in their own communities.
In the last three legislative sessions, the Governor and the Legislature provided $31 million for new tools to help create safer schools. Included in this past legislative budget was funding:
The Governor also signed new laws requiring immediate evaluation of students arrested for bringing guns to school, and requiring more information sharing between schools and law enforcement.
Governor Locke knows our childrens' safety requires more than government intervention. It requires the caring involvement of the community - from students and parents to teachers and neighbors. It takes all of us working together to make our schools safe.
The six pillars of school safety:
STAFF CONTACT:
Dick Van Wagenen, Governor's Executive Policy Office
Phone: (360) 902-0651
Fax: (360) 586-8380
Email: [email protected]