Minority Students Group Rails Against Security Guards at Chicago City Schools

A  minority student advocacy group says zero-tolerance disciplinary policies at Chicago Public Schools don't work. Armed with a cost analysis report, Voices of Youth in Chicago Education said that CPS (CPS) spent $51.4 million on school-based security guards last year, about 15 times the $3.5 million it spent on college and career coaches.

About 75 students rallied at CPS headquarters demanding a new student disciplinary policy to eliminate harsher punishments that they say remove students from classes for minor infractions such as bringing a cellphone to class or not being in uniform. Students weighed in on the current budget crisis to say they don't need police in their schools — a measure under consideration as the district tries to close a budget deficit it estimates at $612 million. They believe CPS funds need to be directed away from guards and police officers and diverted instead to counselors and prevention-based strategies.