The SY 2021–22 report describes the GFSA review process and results and includes a summary of how the quality of data submissions improved as a result of the data review and feedback process with states. The report also summarizes compliance with GFSA reporting mandates and data on firearm incidents for SY 2021–22 and includes detail about the number of incidents reported by student grade level, weapon type, and disciplinary action resulting from violations of the law.
The report also presents comparisons to incident counts and rates from prior school years to explore changes in incidence rates over time. However, it is important to note that data for SY 2021–22 are not comparable to prior school years of reporting because of widespread school closures that occurred nationally beginning in March of 2020, which were prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic and resulted in many schools across the country operating remotely for the whole school year or part of the school year. Students returned to in-person instruction in SY 2021–22. As a result, incidents of firearm possession and related disciplinary actions were generally higher than the previous school year. Therefore, any year-to-year comparative data should be interpreted with caution.