Addressing the Balance of Responsibility Between MCPS and MCPD for the School-to-Prison Pipeline

April 29, 2024 – By Dana Noga – Photos from MCPD post. With the Board of Education Primary Election heating up, questions regarding School Resource Officers (SROs), Community Engagement Officers (CEOs), and security in schools have come to the forefront. MCPS graduate, activist and concerned parent Dana Noga writes about the school to prison pipeline and SROs.

According to the Maryland Office of Legislative Oversight report from 2016, data reflecting key contact points within the school discipline and juvenile justice systems indicated that the School-to-Prison Pipeline in Montgomery County was diminishing in size.

Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) had notably reduced their out-of-school removal rate for suspensions and expulsions by half since 2011, marking the lowest rate across the state. Additionally, it was noteworthy that during the evaluation period of this report, School Resource Officers (SROs) were still present in Montgomery County high schools.

Despite the continued presence of SROs, positive trends were observed, including a decline in juvenile arrests, intakes at the Department of Juvenile Services (DJS), referrals to local juvenile justice diversion programs, and juvenile delinquency cases handled by the Circuit Court (Maryland Office of Legislative Oversight, 2016).

2023 OLO Report

The Maryland Office of Legislative Oversight (OLO) report released in 2023 presents a critical examination of the factors contributing to the school-to-prison pipeline, specifically within Montgomery County Schools (MCPS) and especially with the removal of the SRO program. This report raises important questions about the role of educational institutions in perpetuating disparities that can lead students towards the criminal justice system.

One of the key findings of the OLO report is the disproportionate impact of disciplinary actions on students of color and those with disabilities within MCPS. The data reveals alarming disparities in suspension rates, suggesting systemic issues that must be addressed to ensure equity in education.

The report states “OLO observes that 20 percent of MCPS suspensions during the first semester of the 2022-23 school year violated school policy by removing students for discretionary offenses that did not merit suspension. Had the individual campuses followed the MCPS policy, the school system would be on track to experience an overall decline in school removals compared to last year.” (OLO Report 2023-6, p. 1).

It is crucial to emphasize that the primary responsibility for addressing the school-to-prison pipeline lies with MCPS. The report underscores the significant influence of school policies and practices on students’ trajectories. While some instances may warrant harsh disciplinary measures such as suspensions and expulsions, it is important to recognize that these actions can hinder students’ academic progress and contribute to disengagement from the school community.

MCPS Board of Education Meeting

It is worth noting that at the MCPS Board of Education meeting on Feb 24, 2022, while being presented with data concerning racial disparities BOE member Ms. Karla Silvestre confirmed that the data being presented was from July 2021-Feb 2022 and no SROs/CEOs were in school, she stated “I just want to point out that the disproportionality still exists. It is OUR problem, we have to own it and not say ‘oh it’s the police officers doing this, causing us to have these disproportionality in our schools…..'” (Board of Education, MCPS, timestamp 3:37) (Data School Safety, School Climate, Mental Health, and Restorative Justice Updates, 2022)

2020 MCPD SRO FAQ Document

As recently as 2020, MCPD published this FAQ document on SROs (available on the MCPS website) which details many aspects of what made the MCPS SRO program so successful and according to the FAQ, “one of the most effective community engagement means available to the Department of Police” focusing on “on fair and impartial policing, conflict resolution, de-escalation, and building rapport with Montgomery County students and youth.”

After detailing the specific training, responsibilities, and outreach and enforcement data, the end of the FAQ goes into detail about initiation of arrests during the 2019-2020 school year. The report states that “only a small percentage of total arrests by SROs that were initiated by the SRO. In fact, of the 269 incidents, only nine were self initiated by the SROs themselves. That is 3% of all the arrests made by SROs in the 2019-2020 School Year.”

The FAQ goes on to say that “a vast majority of total arrests made by SROs were initiated by MCPS administrators, MCPS Security staff, MCPS teachers, or parents. This means the SRO was notified by administrators, parents, and staff that they had a student detained in the office for an offense, MCPD School Resource Officer Program 11 or they needed the SRO to assist with a disturbance or other emergency. During the 2019-2020 School Year, over 97% of all enforcement action by SROs were initiated by MCPS. This calculates to 260 of the 269 total arrests for the school year.”

School Responsibilities

Furthermore, the report highlights the need for culturally responsive education and training for educators to combat implicit bias and ensure equitable treatment of all students. Building a positive school climate that prioritizes inclusion and belonging is essential to preventing the conditions that lead to the school-to-prison pipeline.

As a community, we must hold our educational institutions accountable for creating environments that foster learning, growth, and opportunity for all students. As part of addressing the root causes of the school-to-prison pipeline within Montgomery County Schools, it’s essential to acknowledge the multifaceted challenges our educational system navigates.

While MCPS rightly faces scrutiny for disciplinary disparities, it’s vital to clarify that the School Resource Officer (SRO) program has not been found to contribute to this issue. Rather than fixating on misleading distractions, we must confront the growing presence of violence, weapons, and substance-related issues across all grade levels. As we move forward, reinstating a well-implemented SRO program, recognized as a gold standard model, could be a valuable component of a broader strategy aimed at ensuring safety and support within our schools.

References

Maryland Office of Legislative Oversight. (2016). School-to-Prison Pipeline in Montgomery County: Analysis and Response (OLO Report No. 2016-6). Retrieved from https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/OLO/Resources/Files/2016%20Reports/School%20to%20Prison%20Pipeline%20with%20CAO%20Response%2020166.pdf

Board of Education, Montgomery County Public Schools. “Board of Education Meeting.” MCPS. (Feb 24, 2022). Retrieved from https://mcpsmd.new.swagit.com/videos/155162
Accessed 4/24/2024. Timestamp 3:37.

Montgomery County Public Schools. (2022). School Safety, School Climate, Mental Health, and Restorative Justice Updates. Retrieved from https://go.boarddocs.com/mabe/mcpsmd/Board.nsf/files/CCEJZN4F8466/$file/Sch%20Safety%20Climate%20Mental%20Health%20Restore%20Justice%20Updates%20220224%20PPT.pdf

Maryland Office of Legislative Oversight. (2023). Addressing Disparities in Student Discipline: Understanding Student Suspensions and Disproportionality in Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) (OLO Report No. 2023-6). Retrieved from https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/OLO/Resources/Files/2023_reports/OLOReport2023-6.pdf

The Montgomery County Department of Police School Resource Officer Program FAQ Document (2020). Retrieved from https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/pol/Resources/Files/SRO/MCPD-SRO-FAQ.pdf