Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Chicago Public Schools (CPS) and Chicago Police Department (CPD) today shared new data demonstrating that a series of safety reforms beginning in 2011 are continuing to improve safety outcomes for CPS students attending district-run schools across the city. A new report by CPS analyzing key indicators of student safety shows significant improvements between 2011-2016.

The data released today suggest that a series of reforms and investments to enhance citywide coordination on behalf of youth have been effective in improving safety outcomes both in- and out-of-school, and keeping CPS students safer than before.

“There is nothing more important than the safety of our children, and we all have a role to play. This is why we have invested in a coordinated, citywide approach to help keep our children safe and inside of the classroom where they belong,” said Mayor Emanuel. “Keeping our young people safe goes beyond just a policing strategy. Across the city, we have implemented a fully comprehensive effort across city agencies and community partners that works towards a common goal of reducing violence so that our children can thrive in school and in life.”

Three key indicators of youth safety show significant improvements over the past four school years. Compared to school year 2011-2012 (SY 11-12), the recently-completed school year 2015-2015 (SY15-16) realized the following safety outcomes for students who attend CPS district-run Schools:

• 33 percent reduction in the CPS student shooting victimization rate, with no such incidents taking place on school grounds through the entire period.
• 33 percent reduction in criminal incidents along Safe Passage routes during school hours when Safe Passage workers are on duty. 
• 38 percent drop in the rate at which Chicago Police were summoned for in-school incidents involving students

“At a time when many of our young people have experienced the trauma that stems from violence, we must take extra steps to ensure that we are providing our children with the appropriate supports, especially those who may be in higher “at risk” situations that could jeopardize their safety,” said Chief Education Officer, Dr. Janice Jackson. “These strategies have resulted in outcomes that show that these efforts are taking us in the right direction.”

Since SY 11-12, the District has implemented the following collaborative strategies for CPS students:

1. Partner with Chicago Police Department to train in-school officers and all CPS security officers on de-escalation and building relationships with students. To date, all officers have been trained in crisis intervention and how to detect signs of trauma. This level of coordination in training on key strategies for school resources has never been achieved before.
2. Work with the Chicago Police Gang School Safety Team on an innovative multi-tiered support strategy that engages youths via interventions, especially those in the highest risk situations, in order to diffuse conflicts and prevent serious or violent incidents. During the 2016 school year, this effort resulted in over 175 interventions with students in high risk situations. To date, none of these students have since been a victim of gun violence.
3. Work with Department of Family Supports and Services (DFSS) to engage youths in outside opportunities such as employment to give them an opportunity to build relationships while learning new skills. Over the summer of 2016, a private donor funded 300 summer jobs for students who came from high risk environments. To date, none of these students have since been a victim of gun violence.
4. Partner with Community-based organizations and City Agencies, such as CPD, on external safety initiatives such as Safe Passage so that children can have improved confidence and safety in traveling to and from school. Working alongside community-based organizations and city agencies, the District has overseen a four-fold increase of the successful Safe Passage program.
5. Collaborate with organizations, such as Youth Guidance, to drive mentoring efforts through evidence-based programs, such as Becoming a Man (BAM). Since 2011, the administration has invested to expand the BAM program by more than 400 percent, serving more than 2,700 students in 49 schools across the city during SY 15-16. These investments were made based on a strong body of research demonstrating the program's efficacy in serving at-risk students. In fact, a study by the University of Chicago Crime Lab has found that for CPS students participating in BAM, that violent-crime arrests were reduced by 45 percent; and found educational attainment impacts too, with participants 19 percent more likely to graduate from high school on-time.

These improvements are attributed to improved citywide safety coordination, as well as a major systematic shift in approach to addressing youth violence, including replacing a punitive disciplinary approach with an increase in restorative practice. To achieve the goal of supporting students and keeping them inside of the classroom, the District has moved away from ‘zero tolerance’ policies and strategies and now offers supportive services and interventions.

“As our public safety strategy for the city continues to evolve, we understand the impact that these conditions have on our young people.” said CPD Superintendent Eddie Johnson. “We are fully committed to a shared responsibility and a city-wide effort that will help keep our children safe 24/7.”

At the direction of Mayor Emanuel, city agencies have formed a comprehensive citywide approach designed to prevent youth-involved crime and violence by addressing root causes of issues, gathering better data, and by applying a holistic approach to trauma and other catalysts of crime and violence impacting certain communities. These efforts include coordination by CPS, CPD, DFSS and dozens of community-based organizations around the city.

“We are very thankful for the support from all of our school administrators and staff, parents, city partners, community organizations and of course, our students. In bringing together all of these different stakeholders, we are demonstrating that we can give our city’s children a safe, positive future,” said Forrest Claypool, CEO of CPS.

The data released today follows significant academic improvements by CPS students, including better than ever before student attendance and record-high academic gains by students across the city. Together, these improvements suggest that reforms and investments to keep students more connected to their schools have been effective in keeping students safer, which has also then contributed to dramatic improvements in student outcomes citywide.

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