K-12 public schools across the country have begun to deploy law enforcement agents on school grounds in growing numbers. In 2004, 60% of high school teachers reported armed police officers stationed on school grounds, and in 2005, almost 70% of public school students ages 12 to 18 reported that police officers or security guards patrol their hallways. Frequently referred to as School Resource Officers or SROs, these agents are often sworn police officers employed by the local police department and assigned to patrol public school hallways full time. In larger jurisdictions, these officers may be employed directly by the school district. This white paper posits that if they are deployed, they must be provided with the tools necessary to ensure a safe school environment while respecting the rights of students and the overall school climate and argues that a formal governance document is necessary to ensure that law enforcement, school officials, and the communities they serve have a shared understanding of the goals of the SRO program, and that these officers receive the necessary support and training prior to their deployment. The authors present and discuss specific areas of concern to be addressed in a governance document for SRO programs. These are: (1) distinguish between disciplinary misconduct and criminal offenses; (2) respect for students' rights; (3) transparency and accountability; (4) defining the role of the SRO in the context of the educational mission of schools; (5) minimum training requirements; and (6) promoting non-punitive techniques to improve school safety and climate.