What School Psychologists Should Know About Arming Teachers

Over the past 20 years, school shootings have become more prevalent in the United States. Since the Columbine shooting in 1999, more than 187,000 students have experienced more than 152 K-12 school shootings (Cox & Rich, 2018; Walz & Bluer, 2015). This is particularly concerning for school psychologists because of the implications school shootings have on child development and success. In addition to the potential for serious injury or death, youth who are exposed to violence are at risk of alcohol and drug use, as well as depression, anxiety, suicide and other psychological issues (CDC, 2016). Students who have experienced a school shooting are also more likely to have lower scores on math and English standardized tests and lower high school enrollment (Beland & Kim, 2016).