University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Critical policy analysis of police presence in Florida, Illinois, and Texas county district schools

Exum, Cynthia

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/130193

Description

Title
Critical policy analysis of police presence in Florida, Illinois, and Texas county district schools
Author(s)
Exum, Cynthia
Issue Date
2025-07-16
Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)
Pak, Yoon
Doctoral Committee Chair(s)
Pak, Yoon
Committee Member(s)
  • Baber, Lorenzo
  • Ward Hood, Denice
  • Moton, Theopolies
Department of Study
Educ Policy, Orgzn & Leadrshp
Discipline
Educational Policy Studies
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Degree Level
Dissertation
Keyword(s)
  • police in schools
  • deputies in schools
  • school discipline practices
Abstract
This research is centered on racial and social justice, police education, and the growing impact of police in schools in the United States. More particularly, it is concerned with the evolution of police culture over time as it has become more militarized and how that affects local police, law enforcement agencies, and especially police or deputies in schools and the communities they serve. Central Research Question This work is a critical policy analysis of police presence in schools from 2006-2018, with particular focus on Florida, Illinois, and Texas. What are the ways school district policies in Florida, Illinois, and Texas on law enforcement officers in schools align with practice, and what are the ways in which they diverge? The literature review for this topic highlights a number of themes that were present in much of the current research. These themes include racial disparities in school discipline practices and student arrests, the militarization of the police, brief historical and educational backgrounds on police practice, the overwhelming idea that cameras worn by police (body-cams) would be a panacea to prevent problems, and the alarmingly exponential increase in the numbers of police in schools and how their practices are becoming likewise more militarized. Even with the increase in law enforcement officers and their military-like equipment and practices - schools and students have not become safer.
Graduation Semester
2025-08
Type of Resource
Thesis
Handle URL
https://hdl.handle.net/2142/130193
Copyright and License Information
Copyright 2025 Cynthia Exum

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