Understanding School-Based Law Enforcement
Because school safety is everyone’s responsibility, it’s imperative to consider the training needs of not just faculty and staff, but also SROs. The School-Based Law Enforcement Learning Path offers resources at three levels: foundational, intermediate, and advanced, to help users develop and maintain law enforcement programs.
School-based law enforcement refers to partnerships between schools and law enforcement agencies to create safe and positive learning environments. Through these programs, school resource officers (SROs) and staff work closely with students and the community to build trust, improve safety, and address concerns as they arise.
Click the tabs below to explore resources at each learning level.
The foundational level is designed for individuals new to school-based law enforcement or seeking a basic overview. It’s ideal for school staff, community members, and law enforcement agencies wanting to understand the different ways these partnerships work.
- School Resource Officers and School-Based Policing Fact Sheet: School-based law enforcement can take many different forms depending on the needs of the community. This brief fact sheet from the U.S. Department of Justice’s COPS office provides a concise overview of two distinct approaches to school-based law enforcement. It serves as a helpful introductory resource if you are seeking to better understand the role and function of law enforcement on a school campus.
- School and Law Enforcement Partnerships Self-Paced Course (Module 1):
When communities explore partnerships between schools and law enforcement, weighing the benefits and drawbacks of different approaches is a key first step. This module provides historical and contextual background on police involvement in schools. It highlights different models of school-based policing and encourages you to envision how these partnerships might work best in your unique local context—making it a helpful starting point if you are a community member, school staff member, or officer just beginning to navigate this topic.
The intermediate level is for those who already have a foundational knowledge of school-based law enforcement and want to dive deeper. This level is designed for school staff and law enforcement personnel focused on successfully implementing these partnerships and enhancing their effectiveness.
- School and Law Enforcement Partnerships Self-Paced Module 2: As partnerships between school and law enforcement begin to take shape, it’s important to clearly define roles and responsibilities. This module focuses on school resource officers and their role in schools. It offers guidance on the training needed for law enforcement, information sharing, and other key considerations to ensure a successful partnership. It’s a valuable resource for practitioners who utilize these partnerships in their schools.
- School Resource Officer Video Series: Many schools choose to utilize school resource officers (SROs) as their school-based law enforcement. This video series explores common challenges faced by SROs and provides practical guidance for working effectively in school environments. It is a helpful resource for SROs, school staff members, or administrators looking to strengthen their day-to-day collaboration on campus.
- Collaboration & Information Sharing: Navigating information-sharing and ensuring compliance with FERPA are common challenges when partnering with school-based law enforcement. This on-demand webinar explores how schools and law enforcement agencies can work through these complexities together. It provides practical strategies for effective collaboration, making it a helpful resource if you are looking to improve communication and strengthen partnerships in your community.
The advanced level is for those with extensive experience who are looking to lead, improve, or evaluate school-based law enforcement partnerships across their entire district or community.
- Atlanta Public Schools Success Story: Successful school-based law enforcement requires careful planning. This video highlights a real-world school-law enforcement partnership and the specific training and planning that helped make it effective. It is a practical resource if you are a leader looking to strengthen or redesign your own program by seeing how another community put these ideas into action.
- School and Law Enforcement Partnerships Self-Paced Module 3: Maintaining school-based law enforcement programs involves carefully structuring partnership agreements and using strategies that actually work. Building upon the Atlanta Public Schools video, this module highlights the practical training and steps needed to sustain these relationships. It walks you through setting up Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs), testing them out, and adjusting them over time—making it a useful guide if you are a school or law enforcement leader seeking to start or improve your local partnership.
- Systematic Review: Perceptions of School Resource Officers: Community support and buy-in are essential when implementing school-based law enforcement programs. This short video highlights research on how students, teachers, parents, and school leaders view school resource officers. It serves as a helpful resource if you are a school leader considering bringing SROs onto your campus and want to better understand the different perspectives within your community.
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