Clayton County schools clear bag requirement helped cut down on weapons at school, district confirms

In 2022, the Clayton County School District banned students from having bookbags or lockers due to an increase in weapons on school property.

According to the district, about 100 knives, tasers, brass knuckles, BB guns, and handguns, as well as an AR-15 assault rifle, had been found in schools and on buses in the county by the time the ban started in April 2022.

On top of a monthslong campaign to switch to clear bookbags that started in the fall, the district spent $5 million to add more metal detectors and wands at its schools, as well as partner with local law enforcement to increase security and hire more school resource officers.

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The district’s interim superintendent said more would be done to ensure security at county schools, and that Clayton School Police would still have a visible presence on campuses.

“I am totally focused on continuing the process of cultivating a school safety culture and a positive working environment as we prepare for the final days of school,” Dr. Anthony W. Smith, CCPS Interim Superintendent of Schools, said in April. “While this is a time of celebration for our candidates for graduation and promotion, we expect visitors at special events to conduct themselves in accordance with the special nature of each event that recognizes the amazing accomplishments of all Clayton County’s scholars.”

The clear bag policy was in effect since August 2022, according to documents from the Clayton County Schools.

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In the time since the ban on bookbags and lockers started, the district spent time working with parents to encourage locking up guns.

This led to a change in how many weapons were detected or confiscated.

The school district said they cut down the number of weapons confiscated to about 45, and that no assault rifles were detected. Additionally, the district said no one had been killed at its schools since.

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