Chicago School Closures Linked to Rise in Nearby Gun Violence, Study Reveals
A new study indicates that the 2013 closure of 49 Chicago elementary schools, which marked the largest mass public school closure in U.S. history at the time, contributed to increased gun violence in adjacent neighborhoods. Researchers from the University of Chicago and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health published these findings, suggesting an impact beyond limiting access to education.
A recent study has found a link between the closure of public schools in Chicago and an subsequent increase in gun violence within nearby communities. The research suggests that in addition to the direct impact of limiting educational access, the closures also had a discernible effect on public safety.
The findings specifically refer to the events of 2013, when Chicago Public Schools closed 49 elementary schools. This action represented what was then considered the largest mass public school closure in the history of the United States.
Researchers from the University of Chicago and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health conducted the study. Their findings were subsequently published in the journal Social Science & Medicine.
According to Phys.org, the study highlights a complex social consequence associated with large-scale educational policy changes.
