Fights and physical altercations among students in Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) middle and high schools are on the rise, increasing from 4,950 to 6,620, more than a third, between 2022 and 2023.
If these figures seem worrying to you, wait until you find out that in this first year of the school year, they are 25% higher compared to last year, from 400 to 467.
To be precise, in the 2018-2019 school year, LAUSD revealed that 2,315 fights or physical assaults occurred; by 2022-23, these incidents of violence between students had increased to 4,569.
These data were released during the Board of Education’s school safety committee meeting along with the results of last spring’s School Experience Survey.
“Obviously this increase in fights is due to Covid-19 and as a consequence of the family confinement to which children and young people were subjected, and it must be remembered that many suffered the loss of family members, which resulted in a collective trauma,” said Evelyn Alemán, founder of Our Voice, Communities for Quality Educationa support network involving Latino parents with children in LAUSD schools.
Added to this problem, she explained, is the fact that there are not enough mental health resources in schools and in the community.
“There is a need for therapists to help students process the impact of Covid. It often takes months to get an appointment, unless it is an emergency. But what is needed is access to mental health in a timely manner.”
According to Alemán, another factor that has contributed to the increase in physical altercations between students is related to the increase in illicit drugs that impact Latino communities, the violence that stems from the same drugs, and homelessness.
“In addition to all this, we must take into account that in 2020, LAUSD decided to eliminate school police from schools without taking into consideration Latino parents, who are the majority.”
She lamented that LAUSD has not communicated with the migrant and indigenous community on the most important issue for Latino parents: school safety.
“The elimination of school police came about as a result of the protests that arose following the murder of George Floyd in May 2020.”
The LAUSD Board of Trustees voted to cut the budget and there are no more police stations at middle and high schools.
Alemán said the security plan presented to them is focused on restorative justice that does not include the voice of Latino parents.
“We were not included in that plan. Our voices are not there, and therefore, it is not a plan aligned with indigenous and immigrant communities in terms of school safety.”
He added that a tower cannot be built that is far removed from the people’s experience, especially when in the first month of classes, they have found problems with gangs, drugs and weapons in schools.
“They want to base their plan on a restorative justice approach. We say that’s fine, but in addition to that, you have to have school police and mental health resources. A combination of those three, on and off campus.”
If they don’t, he said, they will end up frustrated and disappointed by the inertia they see as violence grows in schools.
The LAUSD version
“The safety of our students and campuses is our top priority,” said Chief Operating Officer Andres Chait in reference to the survey results.
“Los Angeles Unified has made tremendous strides in promoting a culture of awareness and safety, and partnering with Los Angeles School Police, local law enforcement, and municipalities to ensure coverage and speed. We continually review and refine our safety protocols.”
Meanwhile, an LAUSD spokesperson said steps have been taken to make schools safer for students, families and employees.
“Last year, the District announced Every School Safe: Blueprint for Safetya comprehensive security plan to make our campuses safer. Security measures include efforts by the LASPD, partnerships with law enforcement, municipalities, and community organizations, increased social-emotional support, enhanced reporting and communication systems, and positive behavior support.”
The District also launched the application Los Angeles Schools Anonymous Reporting (LASAR), which allows the Los Angeles school community to anonymously report suspicious activity, mental health incidents, drug use, drug trafficking, vandalism and other issues to ensure student safety.
“This year, we are launching Safe Kid Alliancewhich leverages partnerships with law enforcement agencies, community organizations, and municipalities to create safer campuses for students.”
Additionally, he said, school police support, including a presence on campus, is provided at schools as appropriate and within board policy.