Trump School Safety Commission Advocates Scrapping Obama-Era Policies
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump's school safety commission has just released its report on how to make American schools safer.
The group was formed earlier this year following the deadly school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.
The commission, which is chaired by Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, is recommending rolling back an Obama-era policy discouraging schools from reporting violent minority students to police. That was started because minority students faced discipline far more often than others. But the commission says the policy led to schools not taking any action.
The panel also provides guidelines for schools that want to arm teachers and other school employees. However, it stops short of recommending they do so.
In addition, the commission calls on states and communities to consider laws making it easier to temporarily remove or block guns to individuals deemed at risk of being violent.
They recommend schools beef up physical security in its facilities, like adding blast-proof glass.
Finally, the panel is calling on local agencies to develop rating systems for violent videogames.
"Our conclusions in this report do not impose one-size-fits-all solutions for everyone, everywhere," DeVos told reporters. "The primary responsibility for the physical security of schools and the safety of their students naturally rests with states and local communities. Local problems need local solutions."
Separately, the Trump administration also moved on Tuesday to officially ban bump stocks that allow semi-automatic weapons to fire rapidly.
