School Resource Officer (SRO) Memorandum of Understanding MOU Information

• State Law: Information about requirements related to school resource officers (SROs) and the model memorandum of understanding (MOU) can be found in Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 71, Section 37P(d) (M.G.L.ch.71§37P(d)).

• School Resource Officer Model Memorandum of Understanding MOU : This current model Memorandum of Understanding MOU is available as a resource for school districts and police departments to adapt for their use in defining School Resource Officer SRO roles and responsibilities. It is anticipated that an updated model Memorandum of Understanding MOU will be available in winter/spring 2027. More information on the model Memorandum of Understanding MOU and the commission overseeing the Memorandum of Understanding MOU can be found below, under 2026 Model School Resource Officer SRO Memorandum of Understanding MOU Commission.

• District reporting requirements:
  • Under G. L. c. 71 § 37P(d) , no later than August 1 of each year, districts are required to report to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and publicly present to the relevant school committee: (i) the cost to the school district of assigning a school resource officer; (ii) a description of the proposed budget for mental, social or emotional health support personnel for the school; and (iii) the number of school-based arrests, citations, and court referrals made in the previous year disaggregated as directed by Department of Elementary and Secondary Education DESE.
  • Additionally, each school district with an School Resource Officer SRO is required to annually submit to Department of Elementary and Secondary Education DESE their School Resource Officer SRO Memorandum of Understanding MOU and accompanying operating procedures (OP).
  • Additional related information:
    • Required information for the annual submission of School Resource Officer SRO and mental, social or emotional health support staff data
    • Districts are required to submit the number of school-based arrests, citations, and court referrals via School Safety and Discipline Report (SSDR).
    • Information on the percentage of students with a school-based arrest and the percentage of students with a non-arrest law enforcement referral (citations/tickets and court referrals) can be found within School and District Profiles Student Discipline Data Report.
    • Required components of the School Resource Officer SRO Memorandum of Understanding MOU and accompanying operating procedures
    
    

• Information on the number of School Resource Officers SROs and mental and social emotional health support personnel employed by each district can be found on School and District Profiles' Race/Ethnicity and Gender Staffing Report page

• 2026 Model School Resource Officer SRO Memorandum of Understanding MOU Review Commission

Last Updated: January 26, 2026