Dr. Sonja Brookins SantelisesChief Executive Officer, Baltimore City Public Schools

School Police Report Card Survey

SY17-18

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Presentation to the Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners

July 24, 2018

Theresa D. Jones, Chief Achievement and

Accountability Officer

School Police Report Card Survey Purpose and Importance

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• Gauge the amount and quality of interactions between students and School Police

• Developed by Youth As Resources and the Baltimore Algebra Project.

• Survey developed by/for students.

• Adds students’ voice to the conversation about School Police

• Results can be a catalyst for change

• Utilize for changes to practices and training

School Police Report Card SurveyAdministration

• Administered online • English and Spanish

• Schools and programs with permanently assigned School Police

• March 19 – June 19, 2018

• 37 schools and programs eligible to participate• Only students in grades 5 -12 participated

• 5,156 students participated in the School Police Report • This year’s response rate (22.3%) is similar to last year’s

(22.9%).

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Summary of Results

• Students and School Police have a positive relationship, as indicated by:

• 84% of students feel that school police are respectful to students

• 80% of students feel that school police are approachable

• 81% of students feel that school police do not make them feel like criminals

• In addition, more than 70% of students agreed that school police contribute positively to school climate and make them feel safe.

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Respectfulness and Approachability

6%9%

53%

32%

7%9%

54%

30%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

StronglyDisagree

Disagree Agree Strongly Agree

My school police are respectful to students

SY16-17 SY17-18N=5,386 (SY16-17), N=5,117 (SY17-18)

6%

14%

55%

26%

7%

13%

56%

24%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

StronglyDisagree

Disagree Agree Strongly Agree

My school police are approachable

SY16-17 SY17-18

5

N=5,349 (SY16-17), N=5,080 (SY17-18)

Positive Interactions and School Climate

8%

12%

52%

28%

8%11%

53%

28%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

StronglyDisagree

Disagree Agree Strongly Agree

My school police do not make me feellike a criminal

SY16-17 SY17-18

7%

18%

57%

18%

9%

16%

57%

18%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

StronglyDisagree

Disagree Agree Strongly Agree

My school police contribute positively to school culture

and climate

SY16-17 SY17-18

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N=5,335 (SY16-17), N=5,011 (SY17-18) N=5,350 (SY16-17), N=5,019 (SY17-18)

Safety

10%

17%

49%

24%

11%

19%

49%

21%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Strongly Disagree Disagree Agree Strongly Agree

My school police make me feel safe

SY16-17 SY17-18

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N=5,359 (SY16-17), N=5,080 (SY17-18)

Relationships and Understanding

25%

33%30%

11%

31%34%

27%

9%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

StronglyDisagree

Disagree Agree Strongly Agree

I have some form of a relationship with my school

police

SY16-17 SY17-18

18%

33%37%

12%

23%

33% 34%

11%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

StronglyDisagree

Disagree Agree StronglyAgree

My school police have an understanding of my life in

and outside of school

SY16-17 SY17-18

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N=5,315 (SY16-17), N=5,011 (SY17-18) N=5,361 (SY16-17), N=5,095 (SY17-18)

Force

12%

40%37%

11%9%

40% 41%

10%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

StronglyDisagree

Disagree Agree Strongly Agree

*My school police use force when dealing with conflicts

SY16-17 SY17-18

5%

14%

69%

12%

When thinking of force and School Police, what does the

term force mean to you?

Baton

Mace/PepperSpray

Physical

Other

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N=5,060 (SY17-18)N=5,351 (SY16-17), N=5,042 (SY17-18)

We would not need school police if…

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Open-Ended Comments

• Students were asked, “School police would not be needed if…”

• Responses included:

• “We lived in a perfect Utopia; teachers disciplined correctly as well as creating a friendly environment.”

• “Students were kind and understanding instead of being rude and immature towards others.”

• “People had more compassion for one another.”

• “If people just understood how to use words to solve their confrontation instead of violence.”

• “There wasn’t as much violence in the area.”

• “We had more gun control.”

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Is there anything…you feel is important for us to know

Per one student:

• “I don't interact with my school police officer much but every time I see him he is pleasant and kind and encourages me and my classmates to do our work. He always accompanies students to rallies and protests even if our school doesn't condone it. He is dedicated to protecting us and I think he's a real stand up guy. That said, I don't automatically trust cops and therefore I think strong vetting is important to figure out which officers would be best to hire for this job.”

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Considerations

• Some responses indicate a need for further discussion around appropriate expectations for school police:

• 65% of students feel that they do not have some form of a relationship with their school police

• 56% of students do not feel that school police have an understanding of their life in and outside of school

• 51% of students feel that school police use force when dealing with conflicts

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Recommendations and Next Steps

• Chief Hamm will share the results with the School Safety Advisory Board

• Clearly define the roles and expectations of School Police Officers

• Ongoing communication

• School Police, Students, Parents, School Administration and Staff

• Determine the plan for future survey administration in support of Board policy

• Survey design

• Review and revision of questions

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Comments or Questions?

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Chris Wohn, Director of Research Services

CRWohn@bcps.k12.md.us

Akil L. Hamm, Chief of School Police

AHamm@bcps.k12.md.us

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Appendix

Respondents by Grade Level

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Grade

SY16-17 SY17-18

Number (Percentage) of Respondents

Number (Percentage) of Respondents

5th 49 (1%) 87 (2%)

6th 245 (5%) 141 (3%)

7th 184 (3%) 365 (7%)

8th 222 (4%) 319 (6%)

9th 1377 (25%) 1537 (30%)

10th 1205 (22%) 1133 (22%)

11th 1189 (22%) 901 (17%)

12th 949 (18%) 673 (13%)

Total 5420 5156

Listening and Encouragement

10%

24%

49%

17%

12%

25%

48%

15%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

StronglyDisagree

Disagree Agree Strongly Agree

My school police listen to my opinions

and ideas

SY16-17 SY17-18

11%

24%

47%

19%

12%

25%

46%

17%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

StronglyDisagree

Disagree Agree Strongly Agree

My school police encourage and support me

SY16-17 SY17-18

N=5,354 (SY16-17), N=5,071 (SY17-18)

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N=5,334 (SY16-17), N=5,053 (SY17-18)

Students with Disabilities

6%

14%

59%

21%

7%

13%

60%

21%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

StronglyDisagree

Disagree Agree Strongly Agree

My school police understand that some students are people with

disabilities that may or may not be seen

SY16-17 SY17-18

6%

14%

62%

18%

7%

15%

60%

17%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

StronglyDisagree

Disagree Agree Strongly Agree

My school police understand how to work

with students with disabilities

SY16-17 SY17-18

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N=5,343 (SY16-17), N=5,046 (SY17-18) N=5,337 (SY16-17), N=5,045 (SY17-18)

Learning and Pleasantness

8%

20%

53%

19%

8%

17%

53%

21%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

StronglyDisagree

Disagree Agree Strongly Agree

Encounters with school police do not disrupt learning

SY16-17 SY17-18

7%

16%

56%

20%

8%

15%

59%

18%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

StronglyDisagree

Disagree Agree Strongly Agree

Encounters with my school police are pleasant

SY16-17 SY17-18

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N=5,340 (SY16-17), N=5,052 (SY17-18) N=5,340 (SY16-17), N=5,055 (SY17-18)

Dependability and Calming

9%

19%

52%

20%

10%

18%

50%

22%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

StronglyDisagree

Disagree Agree Strongly Agree

My school police are adults I can depend on to help if I am having an

issue

SY16-17 SY17-18

8%

16%

57%

19%

7%

16%

59%

18%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

StronglyDisagree

Disagree Agree Strongly Agree

When my school police get involved, they help calm the situation

SY16-17 SY17-18

21

N=5,352 (SY16-17), N=5,064 (SY17-18) N=5,354 (SY16-17), N=5,040 (SY17-18)

School Events and Resources

11%

30%

47%

12%12%

33%

46%

9%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

StronglyDisagree

Disagree Agree Strongly Agree

My school police refer students to resources and inform the school

about upcoming events and resources

SY16-17 SY17-18

11%

31%

43%

14%13%

33%

43%

12%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

StronglyDisagree

Disagree Agree Strongly Agree

My school police participate in school activities

SY16-17 SY17-18

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N=5,335 (SY16-17), N=5,022 (SY17-18) N=5,327 (SY16-17), N=5,021 (SY17-18)

Board of School Commissioners

Cheryl A. Casciani, Chair

Peter Kannam, Vice-Chair

Muriel Berkeley

Michelle Harris Bondima

Linda Chinnia

Andrew “Andy” Frank

Martha James-Hassan

Ronald S. McFadden

Johnette A. Richardson

Ashley Peña, Student Commissioner

Christian Gant, Board Executive Officer

Senior Management Team

Dr. Sonja Brookins Santelises, Chief Executive Officer

Alison Perkins-Cohen, Chief of Staff

Shashi Buddula, Interim Chief Technology Officer

Sean L. Conley, Chief Academic Officer

John L. Davis, Jr., Chief of Schools

Jeremy Grant-Skinner, Chief Human Capital Officer

Theresa Jones, Chief Achievement and Accountability

Officer

J. Keith Scroggins, Chief Operating Officer

Tammy L. Turner, Esq., Chief Legal Officer

John Walker, Interim Chief Financial Officer

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