Glossary
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Probable CauseIn the context of a student being searched in school by a police officer, probable cause is a belief that a student has violated a rule or committed a crime, based on facts that are known to an officer. Like reasonable suspicion, probable cause cannot be based on a feeling, a rumor, the color of your skin, or the clothes you are wearing.
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Reasonable SuspicionIn the context of a student being searched in school, reasonable suspicion is a belief that a student broke a school rule or criminal law. This belief cannot be based on a feeling, a rumor, the color of the studen's skin, or the clothes the student is wearing. For example, a student can’t be searched just because the school official thinks that they “look like” a drug dealer.
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School Resource OfficerA School Resource Officer (also known as an SRO) is a police officer who is assigned to provide law enforcement services to a school district. The officer is technically employed by a local law enforcement agency. Many school districts in Texas hire SROs and some school districts create their own police departments with officers who are employed by the school district.
School-to-Prison PipelineA term that is used to describe a process of criminalizing youth through which students are pushed out of schools and into prisons. This process is carried out through the use of disciplinary policies and practices that put students into contact with law enforcement.
Student Code of ConductEvery school district must provide a Student Code of Conduct to students at the beginning of the school year. The Student Code of Conduct can be found on a school district's website or a copy can be requested in the campus or district office. The Student Code of Conduct provides information about the schools discipline practices, including the types of punishment that can be given for certain types of behaviors, when parents must be notified, and appeals and grievance procedures.
Systemic ChangeSystemic change involves changing entire systems, not just the outcome for one person (although that is important, too!). Systemic change means changing laws, policies, practices, and rules that control outcomes and opportunities for entire groups of people.
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TEAThe Texas Education Agency is a branch of the state government of Texas that oversees primary and secondary education.
Threat AssessmentThere are programs, generally called "threat assessments," that schools can use to identify and respond appropriately to school safety threats by determining whether threats are real (or "substantive"). Using a threat assessment model can help to ensure that students receive appropriate guidance, support, and services and can help to determine when words and behaviors pose an actual threat to school safety.
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Use of ForceThe amount of physical force a school police officer uses against a student.
Probable Cause
In the context of a student being searched in school by a police officer, probable cause is a belief that a student has violated a rule or committed a crime, based on facts that are known to an officer. Like reasonable suspicion, probable cause cannot be based on a feeling, a rumor, the color of your skin, or the clothes you are wearing.
Reasonable Suspicion
In the context of a student being searched in school, reasonable suspicion is a belief that a student broke a school rule or criminal law. This belief cannot be based on a feeling, a rumor, the color of the studen's skin, or the clothes the student is wearing. For example, a student can’t be searched just because the school official thinks that they “look like” a drug dealer.
S
School Resource OfficerA School Resource Officer (also known as an SRO) is a police officer who is assigned to provide law enforcement services to a school district. The officer is technically employed by a local law enforcement agency. Many school districts in Texas hire SROs and some school districts create their own police departments with officers who are employed by the school district.
School-to-Prison PipelineA term that is used to describe a process of criminalizing youth through which students are pushed out of schools and into prisons. This process is carried out through the use of disciplinary policies and practices that put students into contact with law enforcement.
Student Code of ConductEvery school district must provide a Student Code of Conduct to students at the beginning of the school year. The Student Code of Conduct can be found on a school district's website or a copy can be requested in the campus or district office. The Student Code of Conduct provides information about the schools discipline practices, including the types of punishment that can be given for certain types of behaviors, when parents must be notified, and appeals and grievance procedures.
Systemic ChangeSystemic change involves changing entire systems, not just the outcome for one person (although that is important, too!). Systemic change means changing laws, policies, practices, and rules that control outcomes and opportunities for entire groups of people.
T
TEAThe Texas Education Agency is a branch of the state government of Texas that oversees primary and secondary education.
Threat AssessmentThere are programs, generally called "threat assessments," that schools can use to identify and respond appropriately to school safety threats by determining whether threats are real (or "substantive"). Using a threat assessment model can help to ensure that students receive appropriate guidance, support, and services and can help to determine when words and behaviors pose an actual threat to school safety.
U
Use of ForceThe amount of physical force a school police officer uses against a student.
School Resource Officer
A School Resource Officer (also known as an SRO) is a police officer who is assigned to provide law enforcement services to a school district. The officer is technically employed by a local law enforcement agency. Many school districts in Texas hire SROs and some school districts create their own police departments with officers who are employed by the school district.
School-to-Prison Pipeline
A term that is used to describe a process of criminalizing youth through which students are pushed out of schools and into prisons. This process is carried out through the use of disciplinary policies and practices that put students into contact with law enforcement.
Student Code of Conduct
Every school district must provide a Student Code of Conduct to students at the beginning of the school year. The Student Code of Conduct can be found on a school district's website or a copy can be requested in the campus or district office. The Student Code of Conduct provides information about the schools discipline practices, including the types of punishment that can be given for certain types of behaviors, when parents must be notified, and appeals and grievance procedures.
Systemic Change
Systemic change involves changing entire systems, not just the outcome for one person (although that is important, too!). Systemic change means changing laws, policies, practices, and rules that control outcomes and opportunities for entire groups of people.
TEA
The Texas Education Agency is a branch of the state government of Texas that oversees primary and secondary education.
Threat Assessment
There are programs, generally called "threat assessments," that schools can use to identify and respond appropriately to school safety threats by determining whether threats are real (or "substantive"). Using a threat assessment model can help to ensure that students receive appropriate guidance, support, and services and can help to determine when words and behaviors pose an actual threat to school safety.
U
Use of ForceThe amount of physical force a school police officer uses against a student.
Use of Force
The amount of physical force a school police officer uses against a student.