New safety rules will make going back

to school feel different

By Miami Herald, adapted by Newsela staff on 08.13.18
Word Count 455
Level 600L

Marjory Stoneman Douglas students were given clear backpacks as part of their school's new security measures after the
February 14, 2018, school shooting in which 17 people were killed. Photo: Emilee McGovern/SOPA Images/LightRocket via
Getty Images

MIAMI, Florida — Tyhler Herrera will start school soon. It will be a new school.
The first-grader is looking forward to going. He remembers the school's name
with pride. "KIPP Miami," the 6-year-old says.

Still, Tyhler knows starting a new school brings new responsibilities. He must
earn good grades. He will have more chores to do around the house. He wants to
help his mother, Jessica Rodriguez.

Rodriguez knows Tyhler's new school will be different, too. There will be police
officers at the school. She has important questions about them. Who are these
officers? Are they prepared to handle a gun at school? Then, she will also have to
talk to Tyhler about school safety.

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Rodriguez is 30 years old. When she went to school, it was different. She never
had to have this kind of talk about school safety.

Schools Will Feel Different This Year

Many families in Florida will have similar talks soon. Public schools start in mid-
August. The 2018-2019 school year will feel a little different. This year there will
be new school safety laws across the state.

Now, every building must have a school worker who carries a gun. The worker's
job is to guard the building. These workers keep students and teachers safe.
Schools will have other new safety systems to protect students. There will be
more rules.

The laws were created because of a school shooting in Florida last February. It
happened at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. A teen
who once attended the school was arrested. He killed 17 people and hurt 17
others.

Some Kids Are Already Used To School Officers

Schools have been hurrying to add officers and guards. Having school officers is a
big change for younger students. Before the new law was made, most elementary
schools did not have them. However, most middle and high schools already had a
school officer.

Nancy Lawther is the president of two groups for schools in the Miami area. The
groups help teachers, students and parents work together. She said parents of
young children will want to talk to them carefully. They should explain why
schools workers carry guns to protect them. Parents with older children might
talk about safety, too.

Police Chief Is All About Safety

The Miami-Dade Schools Police Department has been around for about 60 years.
This year, they are looking for more school officers. About 90 Miami-Dade schools
still did not have officers at the end of July.

They are trying to find a rare kind of officer. The person they need must be able to
act like a coach and a parent, said Edwin Lopez. He is Miami-Dade Schools' police
chief.

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This year, Lopez wants schools to be safer than ever.

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