Violent and disruptive incidents in schools declined after pandemic and definition changes: DiNapoli

"Before the pandemic, some of the most serious violent and disruptive incident categories in schools (assault, sexual offenses and weapons possession) experienced gradually declining rates over three academic years spanning 2017-2020, although rates for New York City schools were notably higher. After in-person learning resumed, the incident rates remained much lower than in the pre-pandemic years. The categories of assault, sexual offense and weapons possession cases each declined to under 1% per thousand students."

"This trend coincides with definition changes the State Education Department implemented for School Year 2021-22, stipulating that the offender must be 10 years of age or older, the incident must meet the criteria for a felony as determined by school officials, and the incident must have been referred to law enforcement. Because the revised SSEC definitions include age as a criteria for reportability, DiNapoli's analysis of these categories includes only secondary schools (from middle school upward). Some schools report zero such incidents."

Incidence rates of serious violent and disruptive incidents in schools declined after a change in reporting definitions. Before the pandemic, assault, sexual offenses and weapons possession showed gradual declines from 2017 to 2020, with New York City schools having notably higher rates. After in-person learning resumed, incident rates remained much lower than pre-pandemic years. Assault, sexual offense and weapons possession cases each fell to under one per thousand students. The State Education Department required, starting 2021-22, that offenders be at least 10 years old, incidents meet felony criteria as determined by school officials, and incidents be referred to law enforcement. Because age is now a criterion, analyses include only secondary schools and some report zero incidents.

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