Resources for school gun violence and other safety matters
School safety
Every student deserves to feel safe at school. Since 2020 the No. 1 cause of death for kids in America is guns. In 2020 alone, 4,300 children died from firearms and many of today’s youth have grown up practicing active shooter drills in schools. Educators are increasingly expected to transform from nurturers to first responders at a moment’s notice — having to react and decide the best ways to protect their students based on the circumstances.
This is unacceptable and preventable. The solutions may not be simple or easy, but we know they start with two things: common sense gun reform and mental health supports.
TSTA remains committed to ending gun violence in our public schools and communities through legislative action, crisis preparation, and supporting the mental health, education, and well-being of every student and educator.
Take action on gun violence
Students can’t learn if they feel unsafe or if they are dealing with trauma from incidents that happen outside school grounds or are worried about how to get home safely.
To keep students safe—in our schools and in our communities— we must limit access to guns in the first place by providing universal background checks, banning assault-style weapons, passing red flag laws, and other legislation.
Support common-sense gun reforms
Helping students cope
The news of the Uvalde school shooting will be difficult to confront, but there are steps parents and educators can take to talk to children about the traumatic event.
Grief and loss resources for educators
Talking with children about tragedies & other news events
