A Sea Change in New York City Public Schools That Prioritizes Student Well-Being? As Students Head Back to Class, Arrests for Minor Misbehavior Are Set to End
September 5, 2019
By: Johanna Miller
Source: The Hechinger Report
As New York City public school students head back to school this week, the days when officers in the city’s police department could arrest students for minor misbehavior may finally be over.
After more than two decades in which the New York Police Department (NYPD) had near-total discretion, the department signed a policy in June that limits the responsibilities of police officers in New York City public schools. The policy is part of a school-climate effort by Mayor Bill de Blasio that also includes hiring 285 new school social workers, limiting out-of-school suspensions and providing support for educators to practice positive discipline techniques. It’s a sweeping, ambitious and impressive package, driven in large part by advocates and youth organizers.