In response to an alarming wave of shootings among Chicago students, local leaders are pushing for a new approach to safety, with calls to include anti-violence workers in schools, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. The contentious proposal includes the potential inclusion of professionals with criminal histories, who proponents argue have the life experience and street credibility to effectively mediate conflicts and mentor at-risk youth.

Former Chicago Public Schools CEO Arne Duncan, now managing partner of Chicago CRED, highlighted that the very individuals who might offer invaluable guidance to these youths are currently barred from doing so due to their backgrounds, amidst a spate of fatal attacks unfolding near school grounds, one as recently as Wednesday which left three students shot after they left Senn High School in Edgewater the Chicago Sun-Times reported.

This initiative dovetails with the broader "Scaling Community Violence Intervention for a Safer Chicago" (SC2), aiming to halve the city's shootings in five years through increased outreach in neighborhoods hardest hit by gun violence, with initial efforts focusing on the North Lawndale community as stated by WTTW News. The program, gathering support from both the private and public sectors, hopes to set a new national standard for reducing urban violence.

Despite these ambitions, Chicago Public Schools' Chief of Safety and Security Jadine Chou has reminded the public that while the district is committed to partnerships that could support students, it must still abide by state law, which restricts access for individuals with certain criminal backgrounds the Chicago Sun-Times reported. The new safety measures come at a critical time when even the topic of police in schools has been revisited, with Mayor Brandon Johnson opposing the daily presence of officers and instead advocating for a comprehensive safety strategy that emphasizes discipline and social-emotional support for students.