How Police Activity and Violence Affect School Attendance

In New York City, a recent study looked at how police actions and violent crimes impact student attendance. The research used data from public schools over six years, from 2013 to 2019. It focused on two main things: arrests made by police and reported violent crimes. The study found something interesting. Arrests near schools were a strong predictor of student absences. This was especially true for schools with more Black students. In high schools, nearby arrests led to more absences, but only in schools with a high number of Black or low-income students. Violent crimes near schools had a smaller effect. They were linked to more absences in elementary and middle schools (K-8). However, they didn't seem to affect high school attendance much. This study shows that police actions can have different effects on different groups of students. It highlights the need to understand how policing impacts education, especially for Black and low-income students.