Back to School Community Safety Toolkit

As DC communities grapple with occupation by armed soldiers and militarized police, tens of thousands of DC students are getting ready to go back to school.

We know the current conditions are creating worry and fear among many families, and we know that members of our school communities are also recovering from direct harm caused by these occupying forces. Families and parent organizations have an important role to play in ensuring schools remain safe, structured, and supportive places for children to learn right now.

This 2025 Back to School Community Safety Toolkit compiles ideas from education advocacy organizations in DC that your school community can try now or any time. This toolkit is intended for use by families of DC students in partnership with school staff and parent organizations. If you are not the family member of a student but want to support schools right now, connect with someone in your life who is part of a school community and ask them how you might help.

This toolkit was compiled by Free DC and includes information and materials from the American Federation of Teachers, Anti-Racist DC, Black Swan Academy, CARE DC, Critical Exposure, DC Action, DC Girls Coalition, Empower Ed, Police Free Schools, United Leaders for Freedom, and DC school staff and administrators. Thank you to everyone who contributed to this document.