Background: ACLU-D.C. understands that school safety is a complex and multilayered issue. We also acknowledge and share the concerns many stakeholders have expressed about safety in D.C. schools. It is therefore deeply concerning that the Mayor’s proposed Fiscal Year (FY) 25 budget makes cuts to vital services and programs that support students and schools, such as school-based behavioral health services.
Our Position: To make progress towards school safety, ACLU-D.C. recommends that the Council funds the following items in the FY25 budget. We believe these immediate-term investments could significantly improve school safety without jeopardizing the future of D.C.’s young people and contribute to a safer D.C. overall.