A major investigation into school policing across Texas has revealed widespread use of physical force against students, raising new concerns about accountability, student safety, and the expanding role of law enforcement in public schools.
The investigation, conducted by The New York Times and the San Antonio Express-News, examined thousands of pages of records, videos, and police reports following Texas’ massive expansion of school security measures after the 2022 Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde.
Here are five major takeaways from the findings.
1. Texas Has One of the Largest School Police Systems in America
Unlike most states, Texas allows hundreds of school districts to operate their own police departments rather than relying solely on local law enforcement agencies.
According to the investigation, nearly 400 Texas school districts maintain independent police forces with officers authorized to carry firearms, make arrests, and enforce criminal laws on campus. The system has expanded significantly over the past decade and became even larger after the Uvalde tragedy. (San Antonio Express-News)
2. School Security Spending Increased Dramatically After Uvalde
Following the May 2022 shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, where 19 students and two teachers were killed, Texas lawmakers required schools to have an armed officer on campus.
As a result, statewide school security spending increased from roughly $900 million annually to more than $1.3 billion. The number of officers trained to work in schools also rose substantially, according to the investigation. (San Antonio Express-News)
3. Officers Used Physical Force Thousands of Times
Investigators found that Texas school officers used physical force at least 2,600 times between 2022 and 2025.
The report noted that the true number could be significantly higher because many districts either failed to provide records or lacked complete reporting systems. Cases included students being restrained, tackled, pepper-sprayed, handcuffed, or subjected to other forms of force during campus incidents. (San Antonio Express-News)
4. Many Incidents Began With Minor Misconduct
One of the investigation’s most controversial findings was that numerous force incidents stemmed from relatively minor disciplinary issues.
Records reviewed by reporters showed confrontations involving behavior such as vaping, classroom disruptions, profanity, schoolyard arguments, and dress code disputes. In several cases, students reportedly suffered injuries requiring medical attention after encounters with officers. Some incidents involved elementary-age children. (San Antonio Express-News)
5. Oversight and Accountability Remain Limited
The investigation found that Texas lacks a centralized system for reviewing school police conduct.
State agencies generally do not routinely monitor officers’ use of force in schools, while many local school boards have limited involvement in police oversight. Researchers also found that some school police departments lacked detailed policies governing how officers should interact with students during disciplinary situations. (San Antonio Express-News)
Debate Over School Safety Continues
Supporters of increased school policing argue that stronger security measures became necessary after the failures exposed during the Uvalde school shooting response. Multiple state and federal investigations into the massacre identified serious communication breakdowns, leadership failures, and delays by responding officers. (CapRadio)
Critics, however, argue that expanding police presence without stronger safeguards risks criminalizing routine student behavior and increasing harmful encounters between officers and children.
The findings are expected to intensify ongoing debates in Texas over how schools balance campus security with student welfare, particularly as districts continue investing heavily in law enforcement-based safety programs. (San Antonio Express-News)
Sources
The New York Times, San Antonio Express-News, Texas Tribune, U.S. Department of Justice, PBS NewsHour.
Editor: Sudhir Choudhary
Date: May 29, 2026
Tags: Texas, School Police, Uvalde, Education, Public Safety, Law Enforcement, USA News, Investigation
News by The Vagabond News.
