Like those across the country, New Jersey’s schools have been grappling with how to address the potential — and fears — of violent acts in schools. Up to now, it has been mostly through working with local police, and according to the state, New Jersey’s public schools reported 942 weapons incidents to police in 2022-23, the last available data.

That’s a fraction of the nearly 10,000 incidents of all types that the state’s schools reported to police that year, more than a third of them for substance abuse.

Read NJ Spotlight News’ latest coverage of school threats and the state’s response.