Providing a Safe Learning Environment for All Students - A Review of School Security Measures

Oct 15, 2026

School safety has become an urgent concern in U.S. schools amid rising incidents of gun violence and increasing student disciplinary problems such as bullying. Educators have responded by expanding security measures, including video surveillance, school resource officers, threat assessment teams, and controlled building access. This Equity by Design brief reviews research evidence on outcomes of these measures and considers how impacts may differ across students by race and other identities, emphasizing that safety and nurturing conditions are essential for academic, socio-emotional, wellbeing, and physical development.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages20

Reading Time50 min

AccessFree to download

Understanding School Safety

Defining school safety

Safety and student achievement

Safety impacts on student wellbeing

Equity by Design Brief Purpose

Rationale for reviewing security trends

Potential differential effects across student groups

School Security Measures in Practice

[Image description: Outdoor CCTV monitoring, security cameras at school building.] Providing a Safe Learning Environment for All Students: A Review of School Security Measures Dr. Daniel Hamlin Providing a Safe Learning Environment for All Students: A Review of School Security Measures Please note: This article describes topics related to school violence that may be distressing or sensitive for some readers. Please take care. School safety has become a growing concern for US schools (Hsieh et al. , 2022) . In 2018, school gun incidents rocketed to 119 total incidents, which was an increase of more than 100% from the previous year (School Shooting Database, 2023) . For the next two years during the COVID-19 pandemic, school gun incidents stayed at this elevated level (115 and 120 incidents, respectively) despite prolonged closures for many of the nation’s schools. As schools reopened, school gun violence spiked to 254 incidents in 2021, 305 incidents in 2022, and 361 incidents in 2023 (School Shooting Database, 2023) . In the 13-state Midwest & Plains Equity Assistance Center (MAP Center) region, schools have not been immune to these rises in school gun violence with states served by the MAP Center accounting for 25% of all school gun incidents between 2021 and 2023 (See Table 1, p. 9) . Along with unprecedented school gun violence, student disciplinary issues, including incidents of bullying, appear to be increasing (Belsha, 2022; Irwin et al. , 2022) . Recent survey data indicate that one-third of teachers reported having experienced at least one incident of verbal or threatening violence, and nearly half of all teachers who plan to leave the profession identify school climate and safety as the main reason for wanting to do so (McMahon et al. , 2023) . In a survey of parents, most (67%) say that they are more worried about school safety now than at any time in the past five years (Motorola Solutions, 2023) . These survey findings are cause for concern. A safe learning environment a necessary condition for students’ academic, socio-emotional, wellbeing, and physical development (Hong & Espelage, 2012; Kutsyuruba et al. , 2015) . [Image description: Monitor of school security surveillance system showing classes and students.] Responsibility for school safety does not rest solely with parents and students. The strategies that educators employ in schools may influence student behaviors, attitudes, and reactions in critical ways. Although school leaders have adopted various approaches, one of the main responses to safety concerns has been to strengthen school security (Kolbe, 2020) . As a result, - 1- schools have dramatically increased the use of video surveillance, school resource officers (SROs), threat assessment teams, and controlled access to school buildings (Hamlin & Li, 2020) . The adoption of these measures has changed how many schools look and feel (Hamlin, 2020), but these changes raise important questions about whether security measures truly improve experiences for all students. School security might increase the frequency of interactions with law enforcement and the likelihood of youth ending up in the criminal justice system (Curran et al. , 2021; Servoss, 2017) . Some scholars have argued that school security ultimately does more harm than good to the learning environment as a whole, particularly in the case of students from low-income households, students of Color, and students with disabilities (Curran et al. , 2021) . The purpose of this Equity by Design brief is to consider trends in the use of different types of school security measures and to review research evidence on the outcomes of these measures. Aligning with the Equity Assistance Centers’concern with school integration, we will consider how school security measures may differentially impact students across racial and other identity differences. Because a safe and nurturing learning environment is a fundamental need for al

FAQs

Why has school safety become a major concern in U.S. schools?

The document describes growing concerns due to increases in school gun incidents and rising disciplinary issues, including bullying.

What security measures have schools increased in response to safety concerns?

Schools have dramatically increased video surveillance, school resource officers (SROs), threat assessment teams, and controlled access to school buildings.

How does the brief define school safety and what dimensions does it include?

It cites definitions that include freedom from violence, bullying, harassment, and substance-use influence, extending to an environment free from fear, intimidation, violence, and isolation. It breaks safety into physical, emotional, and structural elements.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Jordan Avery