RELEASE: Gonzales Bill to Improve School Safety Moves Forward

DENVER, CO - A bill aiming to improve school safety and protect Colorado students passed the Senate today. SB20-023, sponsored by Senator Julie Gonzales, creates a multi-agency working group to address school safety standards and ensure Colorado children are able to learn in a safe environment every day. 

“When our kids wake up and go to school, there is only one thing that they should be focused on - learning,” said Senator Julie Gonzales (D- Denver). “Our kids shouldn’t have to worry if they’re safe when they go to class or be constantly looking over their shoulders in fear. Our children deserve a learning environment that helps them feel protected, and by giving experts the platform they need to ensure that our schools are safe, we’ll be one step closer towards making that happen.”
In 2018, Colorado was ranked 10th in the nation for school threats. So in the wake of recent shootings, including Colorado STEM School where student Kendrick Castillo lost his life protecting his fellow classmates, children and their families fear the vulnerability of their classrooms. 

SB20-023 works to address school safety by creating the Colorado interagency working group on school safety. This group would consist of 14 voting members and 4 legislative members tasked with evaluating the effectiveness of lockdown drills, identifying safety best practices, providing school risk assessments and training, creating minimum school safety standards, and reporting data concerning these topics on a monthly basis.   

Colorado children deserve to feel safe at school. This bill serves as a tangible way to improve school safety in Colorado for years to come. 

For more information about SB20-023, please click here.