Dear Worcester Public Schools Families and Staff,
I am writing to address last school year’s safety incident data that was publicized in the media following a report and discussion at a recent Worcester School Committee meeting.
I strongly believe our schools are overwhelmingly safe and our proactive culture and climate initiatives are working well. However, I will be directing some action steps to identify trends and determine disparities in the data shared, and ensure consistent training is in place to bolster safety for students and staff. While our ultimate goal is to prevent all incidents, I am encouraged that students and staff are reporting them, which suggests a growing trust in our schools and district.
In keeping with my commitment to transparency, the district administration provided the School Committee with information exactly as it was requested: student discipline data for school years 2023-24 and 2024-25 for all offenses. The data was not disaggregated by elementary, middle, and high school levels and did not examine more than two years.
The data showed declines and increases in different categories. We saw declines in physical assaults between students (369 incidents to 336) and a considerable drop in weapon possession incidents. Notably, there was a rise in reported physical assaults on staff, which increased from 92 incidents in 2023-24 to 158 in 2024-25.
I want to say unequivocally that it is never acceptable for any staff member or student to be physically assaulted or feel unsafe at school for any reason. The safety and well-being of everyone is our highest priority. As part of our next steps, we will ensure increased and consistent training for staff on physical and emotional de-escalation techniques, behavioral supports, and trauma-informed practices. We will also be analyzing the appropriateness of student placements for students with significant needs.
This week, I have tasked an administrative team to analyze the discipline data to determine any underlying trends. This includes examining disparities between schools and verifying that incidents are being categorized and recorded consistently. The reported data captured our first two years using a new data system and we anticipated disparities.
Also as part of the analysis, we will disaggregate the data between elementary, middle, and high schools. We will also examine the frequency of incidents that involve students with severe special needs in which physical contact is related to their disability and may have been coded as an assault. The Worcester Public Schools is steadfastly committed to transparency, accountability, and the safety of all. We will share the findings of this data analysis with the School Committee and the public.
Through careful analysis, targeted support, and continuous collaboration with school leaders, staff, families, and community partners, we will ensure our schools remain places where everyone feels safe, supported, and welcomed.
Sincerely,
Brian E. Allen
Superintendent
Worcester Public Schools