The school shootings that weren’t

[jkosu]

This spring the U.S. Education Department reported that in the 2015-2016 school year, "nearly 240 schools ... reported at least 1 incident involving a school-related shooting." The number is far higher than most other estimates.

But NPR reached out to every one of those schools repeatedly over the course of three months and found that more than two-thirds of these reported incidents never happened. Child Trends, a nonpartisan nonprofit research organization, assisted NPR in analyzing data from the government's Civil Rights Data Collection.

We were able to confirm just 11 reported incidents, either directly with schools or through media reports.

In 161 cases, schools or districts attested that no incident took place or couldn't confirm one. In at least four cases, we found, something did happen, but it didn't meet the government's parameters for a shooting. About a quarter of schools didn't respond to our inquiries.

Worth reading.

 

[aix_xpert]

Wow. NPR catches a lot of flack for being left-leaning, but questioning and validating data is something an independent and unbiased media should be doing. Kudos to NPR.

 

[imprimis]

but questioning and validating data is something an independent and unbiased FBI should be doing.

FIFY

 

[HighStickHarry]

Wow. NPR catches a lot of flack for being left-leaning, but questioning and validating data is something an independent and unbiased media should be doing. Kudos to NPR.

Agreed. However, It’s like watching a baby eat by themselves. Impressive for them, but a pretty low standard overall.

 

[HighStickHarry]

What will come of this shocking revelation?

 

[wyomingosualum]

Wow. NPR catches a lot of flack for being left-leaning, but questioning and validating data is something an independent and unbiased media should be doing. Kudos to NPR.

Count me as being among those stunned by this story.

 

[aix_xpert]

Problem with this kind of story, is outside of some circles like here, you won't actually see this. I'd bet a year's membership that the 'lazy' media will still use the originally reported 240 number in their next related story rather than the 'verified' 11.

 

[lovethempokes]

This just adds to the reasoning that the Dept of Ed should be cut. They spend money on a report that is incorrect. They don't take the time to validate, and will not issue a new report based on new data. That money should go to the state level( so they can mismanage it).

 

[imprimis]

This just adds to the reasoning that the Dept of Ed should be cut. They spend money on a report that is incorrect. They don't take the time to validate, and will not issue a new report based on new data. That money should go to the state level( so they can mismanage it).

Remember, the DoEd study was undertaken during the Obama administration. They were expected to produce a study which blamed the gun. That's what all good liberal administrations do.

That said, I agree that the DoEd and all agencies of government need to have their budgets trimmed significantly.