Visual representation of school safety challenges in D.C. Public Schools
Washington D.C., August 12, 2025
An alarming report reveals significant deficiencies in school safety measures across D.C. Public Schools, with 71% lacking regular coverage from School Resource Officers. Critical safety repairs have seen a completion rate of only 50%, leaving unresolved security issues. The report emphasizes the urgent need for improvements and invites collaboration among city agencies to address these gaps. As gun violence concerns rise, the report advocates for concrete actions to ensure the safety and well-being of students and staff within the school environment.
Washington D.C. is grappling with a startling revelation as an 83-page report from the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) lays bare significant gaps in the way D.C. Public Schools (DCPS) are tackling the pressing issue of gun violence. Titled “Measures to Combat Gun Violence in DC Public Schools,” the report, focusing on the school years from 2021 through 2023, was released this week and offers a sobering look into the current state of school safety.
This comprehensive report doesn’t hold back and points to a worrying lack of effective strategies, coordination, and infrastructure that may leave schools at risk. Among the findings, it was highlighted that the Department of General Services (DGS) has fallen short, completing only 50% of its safety and security repairs within a required 45-day period. Out of a total of 2,590 safety-related repairs examined, a staggering 1,305 were unresolved past the deadline, leaving issues like broken doors, malfunctioning locks, and inoperable communication systems still problematic.
Moreover, the report details the risks these delays pose to the security of students and staff. There is also no standardized, citywide definition of “school gun violence,” which leads to inconsistent data collection and varying responses from different agencies. This ambiguity has resulted in DCPS not officially adopting its own term for gun violence, continuing the trend of mixed messaging in an already precarious situation.
Another eye-opening statistic from the report reveals that a whopping 71% of DCPS schools are missing regular coverage from School Resource Officers (SROs), largely due to staffing reductions in the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). Feedback from school administrators indicates that a strong SRO presence previously helped deter violence and foster trust and relationships with students.
The report also criticizes the inconsistencies found in the implementation of vital safety protocols, such as visitor policies and classroom security measures, leading to varying levels of protection across schools. The District’s decision to omit DCPS from important citywide gun violence prevention initiatives means resources are being wasted, and effective strategies are hard to put into action.
While the report highlights alarming vulnerabilities, it also acknowledges some successes within the D.C. public school system, such as regular safety drills and well-defined procedures for dealing with weapons-related incidents. However, the urgency of the findings cannot be overstated: there remains a significant discrepancy between outlined security protocols and the reality on the ground. The lost coverage of SROs—from 99 officers to just 35—reflects a dramatic decline in law enforcement presence in schools.
On a positive note, DGS has accepted all the report’s recommendations, indicating a commitment to adopt a new Safety & Security Classification Matrix to properly prioritize repair requests. Meanwhile, DCPS Chancellor has vowed to work towards a formal definition of gun violence by March 2026 and update outdated policies. There’s also a promise to collaborate more closely with the MPD and other city agencies to bolster school safety and ensure learning environments remain nurturing and secure.
As Washington D.C. moves forward, the focus on school safety becomes more critical than ever. With a clear call to action, the report urges stakeholders to take these gaps seriously and address the inconsistencies in the system to provide a brighter and safer future for students. The time to act is now, ensuring that every child can learn in a safe environment, free from the fear of violence.
The report identified failures in timely repairs of safety-related issues, a lack of standardized definitions for gun violence, and high percentages of schools without regular SRO coverage.
Currently, 71% of D.C. Public Schools lack regular SRO coverage due to staffing cuts within the Metropolitan Police Department.
DGS has agreed to implement recommendations from the report, and the Chancellor of DCPS is working on defining gun violence and improving collaboration with MPD.
| Key Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Report Length | 83 pages |
| Safety Repair Completion Rate | 50% within 45 days |
| Unresolved Safety Issues | 1,305 repairs past deadline |
| Lack of SRO Coverage | 71% of schools |
| School Resource Officers Decline | From 99 to 35 |
| New Safety Initiative Deadline | March 2026 for gun violence definition |
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