According to a draft memorandum of understanding between the school system and police, the Alexandria Police Department officers are considered “school officials” with access to the records of Alexandria City Public Schools students.
The School Board is conducting a public hearing on the draft MOU on Tuesday night, May 27. The 40-page document is an update to the two-year agreement between police and ACPS. Once approved, the updated agreement will be in effect from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2027. APD provides school resource officers at Alexandria City High School and the city’s two middle schools.
In the updated MOU, school resource officers are considered “school officials with a legitimate educational interest,” a position backed by the U.S. Department of Education.
According to the draft MOU:
For purposes of access to student records, SROs may be considered in reviewing information from student educational records covered by FERPA, and may be provided student information as needed to carry out their duties related to the school environment, provided such SROs perform a function or service for which the school would otherwise use employees (e.g., maintaining the physical safety and security of the school) and comply with the use and re-disclosure requirements set forth in 34 C.F.R. & 99.33.
SROs may have access to (i) information on students in their assigned schools that include directory information and additional items needed to carry out their duties, such as class schedules, as approved by the school administrator, and (ii) directory information for all students in the school division (however, unless they are school officials with a legitimate educational interest, they will not have access to student addresses, telephone numbers or email addresses unless another exception applies, given & 22.1-287.1 of the Code of Virginia) While, as noted above, SROs are always under the control of the APD in carrying out their law enforcement duties, the APD agree that SROs will respect the confidentiality of student education records as other school officials would, and are under the control of ACPS when it comes to the handling of student education records. APD understands that unless a FERPA exception applies that would permit disclosure to law enforcement by any school official (e.g., in the context of a health or safety emergency or in response to a subpoena), SROs will not share protected student record information with any other law enforcement officer within the APD.
The draft MOU states that the evaluation of the partnership between ACPS and APD will be based on regular SRO reports and a bi-annual ACPS safety report detailing the number of crime incidents. The amended document also says SROs “should assist school administrators in developing school crisis emergency management, and medical emergency response plans,” and adds requirements that the superintendent and school principals receive reports from SROs on arrests, illegal drugs and substances on school property, violent incidents resulting in injury, written threats against the school, illegal conduct such as carrying a firearm on school property and making false threats.
At the same time, ACPS principals must report any potential felony offense to police,
ACPS and APD have modeled their SRO program to the National Association of School Resource Officers’ TRIAD model, which promotes a mentor relationship between law enforcement and students.
“Adolescents who have an adult to confide in are less likely to take part in risky behaviours,” the draft MOU says.
There was also a change on the investigation and questioning of students.
SROs have the authority to question student who may have information about criminal activity “on or off school property,” without needing permission from parents or school administrators. The draft MOU adds that investigating and questioning students during school hours or events should be limited to “situations where the investigation is related to suspected criminal activity related to the operation of or occurring at the school,” or when a delay might results in more crimes being committed. The document also says SROs should “not be involved in the physical restraint of a student unless there is imminent danger of serious physical harm to self or others.”
Additionally, the draft MOU states that to be an effective public safety educator, the SRO should be capable of delivering lessons on public safety topics like:
- Crime prevention
- Social media
- School safety
- Victimization laws pertaining to students
- Safe traffic stops
- Driver safety
- Law enforcement careers
- Decision making
- Other topics requested by staff/parents/students
To be an effective information counselor/mentor, the SRO should be properly trained in:
- Mentoring crime prevention
- Empowering youth resiliency and overall wellness
- Adolescent brain development
- Social and emotional development
- Supporting diversity, equity and inclusion
- Improving youth decision-making skills
- Trauma-informed practices
