Symposium participants, in addressing specific school-based solutions, broke the discussion into two sections.  The first focused on school district policies, and the other focused on funding issues.

School District Policies

• Before deciding upon policies, ask students for their input and ideas.
• Mandate student participation in at least one extracurricular activity.
• Extend the school year or move to year-round schooling.
• Start the school day later in the morning, so the day does not end so early, leaving many children on their own for hours.
• Increase the number of counselors available to schools.
• Mandate a one-on-one counseling session for each student.
• Make sure emergency personnel are working with educators on safety plans.
• Decision-makers need to utilize research when considering policies.
• Include more art and music in school curriculum.
• Use school uniforms.

Funding Issues

• Make funding equitable.
• Set priorities and strategies, then work on funding.  Money should not be a limitation.
• Evaluate priority of funding education relative to other institutions, such as jails. 
• Recognize that funding needs to be flexible to recognize the culture of each state.
• Set minimum funding standards.
• Requirement for outcome measures should accompany funding.
• Do not abandon programs that are working.
• Fund early childhood programs and quality day care.
• Increase salaries of educators and school professionals.
• Ensure money gets to the areas where students will benefit most.
• Fund greater involvement of social workers in schools.
• Encourage partnerships through funding.
• Utilize tax incentives for community/business involvement.
• Focus funding on mental health, not criminal justice in funding decisions.