June 4, 2026 — HOOVER, Ala. — The National Association of School Resource Officers (NASRO) issued a statement regarding best practices in the wake of the ongoing national conversation around the role school resource officers play in schools and communities. The following statement is attributable to NASRO Executive Director Mo Canady.
NASRO remains committed to evidence-based, student-centered school safety practices. School resource officers are an essential part of those practices and are most effective when they are carefully selected, specifically trained and integrated into the school community as mentors, educators and protectors. SRO programs should be characterized by trust, collaboration and clearly defined responsibilities.
Proven Impact in Schools
These programs are successful when built on NASRO-established best practices. In the past 11 school days alone, NASRO has tracked eight incidents in which SROs confiscated weapons on school campuses without injury. While the impact of preventing a single act of school violence cannot be measured, these incidents demonstrate the important role properly trained SROs play in keeping schools safe.
Defining the Appropriate Role of SROs
Routine disciplinary matters should not fall within the scope of a school resource officer’s duties. These are the responsibility of school administrators and that distinction should be clearly outlined in any memorandum of understanding between a police department and school system. SRO involvement should be limited to legitimate safety threats or criminal matters. Improper use of SROs for discipline can undermine trust and negatively affect school climate.
Federal Data Reinforces the Need for Best Practices
According to data published by the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights in November 2023, there are disparities in school-related referrals to law enforcement and arrests, including disproportionate impacts on students with disabilities and students of color. These findings reinforce NASRO's longstanding position that SROs should not be involved in routine discipline and that law enforcement involvement should be limited to legitimate safety and criminal matters.
Clear MOUs Create Accountability
Every SRO program should operate under a written MOU between the school district and law enforcement agency. MOUs should clearly define:
- SRO responsibilities
- Boundaries regarding discipline
- Communication procedures
- Information-sharing expectations
- Training requirements
- Accountability measures
Clearly defined roles protect students, strengthen collaboration and promote accountability.
Effective SRO programs emphasize relationships and prevention. Students are more likely to report concerns and seek help from trusted adults, and the U.S. Department of Justice recognizes that SROs commonly serve as mentors, educators and advisors while supporting conflict resolution, safety education and prevention efforts.
Specifically Trained
School-based policing requires training distinct from traditional law enforcement assignments. NASRO serves as the gold standard for school-based law enforcement training and has developed curricula around adolescent brain development, de-escalation, trauma-informed practices, behavioral threat assessment and more. Proper training helps ensure officers respond appropriately to student behavior while maintaining safe learning environments.
Student Safety and Support Must Go Hand in Hand
The goal of school safety should always be to protect students while preserving supportive, welcoming learning environments.