Children aren’t criminals; police officers don’t belong in schools.

President of the Hazen Foundation, Lori Bezahler, calls for education reform that supports students’ needs and builds teacher capacity in “More police in schools are not the answer. It’s up to educators to make schools safe” published by the Hechinger Report.

Students deserve a learning environment where they are challenged to learn and grow, not fear for their safety. Police-free schools are safe schools.

The fear of the next school tragedy resurfaces every time a new school year begins, every time students return to class after a holiday break. Yet we cannot allow our fear to fuel the adoption of school policies that disproportionately harm Black and brown, disabled, and LGBTQ+ students.