Metal detectors and active shooter drills have become common features of school safety programs, but many parents believe educators should concentrate on children’s mental health instead, according to a new poll.
Nearly 60% of parents with elementary and middle school children say teacher training to identify and support students with emotional or behavioral challenges would make schools safer, according to results from the University of Michigan Health C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health.
By contrast, only 35% consider onsite police officers an effective way to improve school safety, and 28% believe active shooter drills help.
Mott Poll Co-Director Sarah Clark explained in a news release: “Many people equate school safety with preventing tragic shootings. But our report suggests parents view safety more broadly. They see it as protecting children from the everyday harm caused by bullying, exclusion and emotional distress.”
Parent Concerns and Priorities
Approximately one in six parents express extreme or serious concern about their child’s safety at school, according to the nationally representative survey of 1,000 U.S. parents with children ages 6 to 12.
Parents specifically prioritize addressing students’ emotional and social needs as effective strategies. The results show:
- 59% want teachers trained to recognize and respond appropriately when a child is struggling
- 48% want more school counselors
- 45% want a confidential reporting system in schools
- 42% want schools to expand friendship and inclusion efforts
Clark noted: “Teachers see kids every day and are often the first to notice when something’s wrong. With the right training, teachers may be able to step in early and help a student in distress before problems escalate.”
Lower Support for Traditional Security Measures
These approaches received substantially more support than traditional school safety measures such as onsite police officers (35%), active shooter drills (28%), building security changes (24%), and monitoring students’ social media (24%).
Clark stated: “While high-profile threats are often what grab headlines, many parents seem to agree that real safety starts with relationships, belonging and early mental health support.”
Root Causes Identified
Parents identified the top contributors to school safety problems as lack of parental supervision, student access to weapons, insufficient services for struggling children, mental health issues among students, inadequate security, and inconsistent or ineffective discipline.
About one in four parents said their child’s school does too little to hold parents accountable for safety problems caused by their children.
Clark acknowledged the challenge: “Accountability can be a tough balance. Schools want to keep families engaged and participating in counseling or behavior plans, but parents also expect clear consequences for ongoing issues.”
This survey reveals a shift in how many parents conceptualize school safety—viewing it less as a matter of physical security infrastructure and more as creating supportive environments that address students’ emotional and behavioral needs before problems escalate.