Executive Summary:

• According to the CNN school shootings database, there have been at least 50 school shootings so far in the United States in 2024. The incidents left 24 people dead and at least 66 other victims injured, according to CNN’s analysis of events reported by the Gun Violence Archive, Education Week, and Everytown for Gun Safety.  

• School shootings increase absenteeism and grade repetition, reduce high school graduation, college enrollment and completion, as well as reduce the human capital potential for students involved. Additionally, schools experience reductions in retention among teachers and teaching support staff in the years following a shooting.  

•  Given these long-term consequences, it’s crucial for government policies and programs to address the holistic needs of school shooting victims. This includes not only immediate crisis response but also sustained mental health support, educational accommodations, economic assistance and community-centered solutions in order to equitably and sustainably improve school safety. By focusing on long-term effects, we can better support survivors on their path toward healing and resilience  

Introduction 

On March 14, 2023, President Joe Biden signed into law the ‘Bipartisan Safer Communities Act’ with the aim of combating the dangerously increasing rates of school shootings in the country and the long-lasting physical and mental wounds it has on communities. The Act intends to fortify communities affected by gun violence by enhancing background checks for persons under the age of 21, providing funding for extreme risk protection and crisis intervention programs, and increasing the focus on mental health resources to alleviate the resulting grief and traumatic effects of gun violence on children. As the frequency of school shootings in the United States has surged over the past two decades leaving lasting scars on students, staff, and the broader educational environment, the mentioned action of Biden-Harris administration is an indicator of the increasing importance of policy in addressing the ripple effects of school shootings on the health and performance of students and staff involved.  

The Emotional and Psychological Impact on Students 

For students, the effects of school shootings often result in enduring psychological trauma. According to the 2022 policy brief by Maya Rossin-Slater, an associate professor of health policy in the Stanford University School of Medicine that analyzed the detrimental impact school shootings have on the mental health found that there was 21 percent increase in antidepressant use among youth under age 20 in local communities where fatal school shootings occurred in the prior two years.  

Additionally, these traumas can disrupt the academic performance and socio-economic development of students involved in school shootings according to 2022 research paper which covered the 33 public school shootings in Texas that took place on school grounds during school hours between 1995 and 2016. The findings showed that on average in the short run, children who were involved in public school shootings had their absence rate increase by 12.1 percent relative to the pre shooting mean of 3.7 percent, further leading to chronic absenteeism which rose by 27.6 percent relative to the pre-shooting mean of 6.5 percent. 

Moreover, in the long term, students who were sophomores or juniors when a shooting occurred at their high school were on average associated with a 2.9 percentage point (3.7 percent relative to the mean) reduction in the likelihood of graduating high school by age 26. We also find that shooting exposure in grades 10 and 11 leads students to be 4.4 percentage points (9.5 percent) less likely to enroll in any college, 5.5 percentage points (17.2 percent) less likely to enroll in a 4-year college, and 3.1 percentage points (15.3 percent) less likely to receive a bachelor’s degree by age 26.  
 
Teachers and School Staff: Bearing the Weight 

It is not just students who suffer in the wake of school shootings; teachers and school staff also face emotional turmoil and professional challenges. More insight on this could be drawn from a CNN article  which compiled the feedback of hundreds of teachers across the United States on their overall state following a school shooting  This study informs us that teachers who have witnessed a school shooting suffer from effects of emotional instability resulting from post-traumatic stress disorder, increased teacher absenteeism due to the lack of feeling safe, and burnout.   

Following the shooting on May 24, 2022, at Robb Elementary school in Uvalde, Texas where 22 people lost their lives, teachers reported feelings of powerlessness and frustration as they did not feel safe at school afterwards and felt a lack of support from the educational system driving many educators to leave the profession altogether. Teachers are undervalued as they take great pride in their work and are often expected to take on multiple roles as educators, nurses, counselors, life coaches, and first responders, which takes an emotional toll. Their calls for stricter safety measures and greater support have highlighted the urgent need for legislative changes. 

Shifting School Policies and Safety Measures 

In response to school shootings, schools across the country have implemented a range of security measures, from installing metal detectors and bulletproof windows to employing armed security personnel. For example, the Clark County School District in Nevada recently implemented comprehensive safety measures that include increased campus security, more frequent drills, and expanded mental health services. While these measures aim to protect students and staff, they have also sparked concerns that increased security measures will not only contribute to a prison-like environment, but also psychologically takes away their sense of freedom as they constantly live in a fearful state.  

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) also recommends threat assessments by school staff to identify, assess and manage students who may pose a threat of targeted violence in schools. Gun violence has changed day-to-day life in and out of the classroom, with more time and resources being funneled into preparing for worst-case scenarios, hence why schools now walk a fine line between ensuring safety and maintaining a supportive environment for learning. 

Federal and State Policy Responses 

In recent years there has been a stark increase in school shootings, with 2021, 2022 and 2023 all setting records since at least 2008, but 2022 was one of the deadliest years with 46 fatalities. Government policy has evolved to address the rise in school shootings, with federal initiatives such as the STOP School Violence Act of 2018 and the and the 2023 Bipartisan Safer Communities Act providing grants for school security upgrades and violence prevention training. 

Despite these measures, there is still more that can be done as the factors leading to mass shooters’ attacks are multifaceted. While there are efforts to improve response times and safety protocols, advocacy groups could argue that current policies are inefficient with little emphasis on preventative efforts such as mental health and community support. The RAND Corporation in a research article After School Shootings, Children and Communities Struggle to Heal | RAND, emphasizes the importance of developing evidence-based mental health treatments to deliver efficient responses to survivors’ needs while addressing the complex course of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms that may emerge months and even years after an event. 

The Road Ahead: Current Efforts and Needed Reforms  

As the nation grapples with school shootings, there is an urgent need for more comprehensive policies that address not only the immediate threats but also the long-term recovery of affected communities. Mental health services remain underfunded, and more must be done to provide consistent, trauma-informed care to students and staff.  

The American Psychological Association What happens to the survivors? (apa.org) recommends the Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools (CBITS) and the Skills for Psychological Recovery (SPR), which are evidence-based programs that teach survivors tools, such as breathing and writing exercises to help manage their distress and encourage them to increase their participation in meaningful and positive activities. These programs also teach survivors how to redevelop and enhance communal connections and build support systems.   

Another adaptable reform geared towards mitigation of long-term side effects of school shootings would be Community Violence Intervention (CVI) programs. According to The Center for American Progress (CAP) Community-Based Strategies To Reduce Gun Violence in Schools – Center for American Progress. The CVI program focuses on people-centered approaches with local community members who have relevant experiences in reducing violence are dedicated to supporting community-based healing. With the example of the Safe and Successful Youth Initiative (SSYI) in Massachusetts —a cross-sector, youth-oriented CVI program—CVIs have proven to be cost effective and decrease homicide rates by 60 percent. 

Conclusion 

The effects of school shootings ripple far beyond the tragic moments of violence. For the students and educators affected, the deeper psychological and emotional scars can last a lifetime, while the policy responses continue to shape the future of the educational environment in America. As the U.S. seeks to balance school safety with preserving the integrity of its learning environments, it is clear that a more holistic, sustained approach is needed to address the aftermath of these devastating events as it is becoming increasingly clear that this will become the new ‘normal’ in our lives.