NYCLU to Commissioner Kelly: Comply with the Student Safety Act

The New York Civil Liberties Union today called on NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly to stop delaying and comply with the Student Safety Act, a law that requires the Police Department to release quarterly reports detailing its activity in city schools. The NYPD has missed two consecutive reporting deadlines.

“Transparency remains a dirty word at the NYPD,” NYCLU Executive Director Donna Lieberman said. “Withholding this data doesn’t just violate the law, it deprives students, parents and educators of information that will help improve the city’s schools. It’s time for the NYPD to stop the stonewalling and let New York City know what police personnel are doing in our schools.”

The Student Safety Act, which Mayor Bloomberg signed into law in January, requires the NYPD to submit quarterly reports to the City Council containing a variety of data related to its school safety operations, including the number of students arrested and issued summonses, and details of non-criminal incidents involving NYPD personnel.

The first quarterly report was due August 1, with another report due November 1. Two quarters have lapsed since the law took effect, and the NYPD has yet to submit its first report.

In a letter sent today on behalf of the Dignity in Schools Campaign-New York and the Student Safety Coalition, the NYCLU reminded Kelly of the Department’s reporting obligations under the law.

“We understand that the NYPD faced some challenges in updating its record keeping to comply with the law, but the Student Safety Act has been law for close to a year – the Department has had more than enough time to make adjustments,” said NYCLU Advocacy Director Udi Ofer. “Given the NYPD’s well-publicized emphasis on data-driven policy decisions, it seems highly unlikely that the Department can’t meet its reporting obligations under this important civil rights law.”

The Students Safety Act, which passed the City Council unanimously, also requires the New York City Department of Education to submit bi-annual reports on the number of student suspensions in city schools. The DOE released its first report on Tuesday. The data, which was released on schedule, shows that suspension rates in city schools increased over the past year.

“The NYPD needs to be held accountable for missing both of its deadlines. We didn’t pass the Student Safety Act just for the sake of passing something,” said Nilesh Viswashrao, 17, a leader of Desis Rising Up and Moving and a member of the, Dignity in Schools Campaign-New York,a citywide coalition of students, parents, educators and advocates. “We compromised a lot on this bill just to get it passed and find out what the NYPD is doing in our schools. This is a smack in the face to the young people who struggled for this important piece of accountability.”

Data provided through the Student Safety Act will help educators, parents, policymakers and advocates to determine the impact of school safety policies on student achievement and school climate. Using the data, they can work together to improve school safety and discipline practices, narrow the achievement gap and raise graduation rates in city schools.