Letters: State is violating its own law on school violence

As a sponsor of the Safe Schools Advocate Act and chairman of a bipartisan investigation into violence in Philadelphia schools, I share hopes that the school district's latest effort to address school violence, "Focus 46," doesn't become just another empty promise.

Sadly though, while the district and state make big pronouncements, they continue to ignore laws enacted to protect victims. After establishing the Office of the Safe Schools Advocate in 2001 to give victims a voice and protection from assailants, as well as keeping the school district's feet to the fire on mandatory reporting requirements and the expulsion of violent students, the state Department of Education violated the law and closed the office in the summer of 2009.

The school district's call for a blue-ribbon panel of city leaders to monitor the district's progress flies in the face of existing law, which requires the advocate to monitor the district's compliance with the Safe Schools Act. No child should fear for his safety in a school environment that should nurture learning and creativity. The state Department of Education should immediately reopen the Office of the Safe Schools Advocate for Philadelphia's schoolchildren.

State Rep. John Taylor

Philadelphia