President Donald J. Trump Is Committed to Making Our Schools Safer | Eastern NC Now

Press Release:

    "We must also work together to create a culture in our country that embraces the dignity of life, that creates deep and meaningful human connections, and that turns classmates and colleagues into friends and neighbors."  -  President Donald J. Trump

    PROVIDING A SAFE ENVIRONMENT: President Donald J. Trump's Commission on School Safety examined ways to make our schools safe for all students and teachers.

            •  President Trump's School Safety Commission (Commission) is releasing its report and recommendations on how to address school safety and violence.

                  •  The President established the Commission following the tragic shooting in Parkland, Florida, and placed it under the leadership of Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos.

                  •  The President directed the Commission to make a comprehensive assessment of the issue of school violence and to make policy recommendations to keep our schools safe.

            •  The Commission listened to students, parents, teachers, administrators, counselors, law enforcement, mental health professionals, security personnel, and others.

                  •  The Commission hosted meetings, field visits, and listening sessions across 8 States and the District of Columbia and reviewed more than 1,500 comments from the public.

            •  Understanding that each community has a unique set of school safety needs without a one-size-fits-all solution, the Commission offered recommendations, to be adopted as appropriate.

    PREVENTING SCHOOL VIOLENCE: The Commission offered a number of recommendations to improve school cultures and help prevent acts of school violence.

            •  Schools and communities must take a comprehensive approach to making sure school campuses are safe places for learning and growth.

            •  The Commission's report emphasizes the importance of improving access to mental health services as a vital means of reducing school violence.

                  •  This includes identifying youth at risk for mental illness and connecting them with needed treatment, services, and support.

                  •  The Commission advocates the development of model State legislation on compelling treatment for individuals with serious mental illness.

                  •  One analysis found that up to 25 percent of mass shooters had been treated for mental illnesses, and more than 75 percent had prior symptoms of mental illness.

            •  The Commission endorses Extreme Risk Protection Order laws, which give authorities a temporary way to keep those who threaten society from possessing or purchasing firearms.

            •  The Commission encourages media to consider adopting the principles of the "No Notoriety" campaign, which calls on media coverage to not use names or photos of killers.


    PROTECTING STUDENTS: The Commission laid out recommendations to improve the physical security of schools and ensure trained personnel are in place to respond to threats.

            •  While all schools have different needs for physical security, there are common principles that should be applied, such as identifying security gaps and using layers of security.

                  •  The primary responsibility for the security of schools rests with States and local communities, which are best able to tailor solutions to fit their own unique needs.

            •  The Commission supports a number of methods to fund training, planning, personnel, and equipment to improve school security.

            •  The Commission recommends that the Federal Government develop a clearinghouse to assess, identify, and share best practices related to school security measures.

    Read the Commission's 180-page final report.

• Contact: White House
•     Press Office