Written by: Marianne Partisan

A controversial bill to create a task force to study school safety issues has passed through the House Education Committee, raising questions about its potential implications. House Bill 1320, known as the Educator Safety Task Force, has been sponsored by two teachers, Rep. Meghan Lukens and Sen. Janice Marchman.

If passed, the bill would establish a task force with the following objectives:

• Study the impact of state policy, staff shortages, and resource inequalities on the safety of public-school staff.

• Develop recommendations to prevent contributing to the school-to-prison pipeline.

Proponents of the bill argue that educators need support now more than ever, citing the rising prevalence of violence against educators and the strain caused by COVID-related isolations on children's social and emotional development.

PRIME SPONSORS

• Rep. Meghan Lukens

• Rep. Elizabeth Velasco

• Sen. Janice Marchman

• Sen. Kyle Mullica

The Colorado Education Association (CEA) released its annual State of Education report, highlighting these issues and emphasizing the need for a task force comprised of individuals with lived experience in the education system.

According to the CEA report, 32% of educators surveyed experienced physical abuse by a student in the two years preceding the survey. The report commended the establishment of the Colorado Office of School Safety but noted that its focus primarily revolves around emergencies like school shootings, lacking attention to everyday violence.

The proposed task force aims to address these concerns and foster a safe learning environment for both students and educators.

The CEA report also revealed alarming statistics regarding mental health. Seventy percent of respondents stated that their students' mental health significantly worsened in recent years, while 66% reported their own mental health deteriorating.

However, the survey indicated that 77% of respondents would feel less safe if educators were allowed to carry illegal firearms in schools. Additionally, nearly 58% of educators were considering leaving the profession soon, exacerbating the education crisis in Colorado.

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The CEA report also highlighted concerning issues related to access to firearms among Colorado teens and the prevalence of suicide and bullying reports. Critics argue that efforts to improve school safety must be well-informed and targeted, aimed at dismantling harmful structures rather than inadvertently reinforcing them.

The bill will now be presented to the Colorado House of Representatives for further discussion and a vote.