Counties Support Increased State Aid for School Safety

On March 15, 2023, Associate Policy Director Brianna January submitted testimony to the Senate Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee in support of SB 938 – Primary and Secondary Education – School Safety and Student Well–Being – Examination of Policies.

This bill increases the amount of annual funding distributed to schools for the purpose of further developing their safety and student wellness services, such as dispute prevention and remediation and School Resource Officers. In doing so, SB 938 will help local school systems in their efforts to provide students with a safer educational environment, one more conducive to learning and academic achievement.

From the MACo Testimony:

Counties applaud SB 938’s significant commitment to the safety and wellbeing of Maryland’s public school students and staff. The bill and its dedicated State resources are particularly timely as school boards and counties around the state work to address the mental and behavioral health needs of students and secure school facilities with limited dedicated resources to do so. Additionally, SB 938 offers greater flexibility in eligible uses of grants supported by the Safe Schools Fund, to include student conflict resolution for situations like fist fights and physical altercations – a concerning and dangerous problem for all Maryland students and school staff.