According to new numbers from the Florida Department of Education, school violence is trending down across the state, but what does it mean for schools in the Tampa Bay area?
The numbers released factor in things like bullies, weapons and attacks.
Polk, Pasco, Pinellas and Hillsborough Counties have all seen increases in students fighting on campus, and bullying has increased in Pasco, Pinellas and Hernando schools.
We spoke to three local parents: Tia, Eddie and Meghan, who all worry constantly about their kids.
Though numbers across the state went down, there were 19,372 fights in Florida schools last year.
1.349 incidents were reported of students bringing weapons to FL schools in the 2017-18 school year. Polk County saw a slight increase from 15 weapons the year before, to 18 last year.
Tia says she prepares her kids for the worst.
"To watch out be careful and don’t be the hero today. Be the hero by going and telling you teacher," she says.
Meghan says she noticed a difference in the defense against bullies.
"What you should be doing what you shouldn’t be doing, how to report it how to make it stop," she explained.
What all three parents agree on, is that the trend doesn't end at school, it begins at home.
To see the complete numbers from the Department of Education, click here.
