Crackdown on Student Threats
Tennessee’s Harsh Punishment of Kids
Students in Tennessee are being kicked out of school and arrested on felony charges, sometimes because of rumors and misunderstandings. Experts say there’s little evidence that zero-tolerance laws make schools safer.
An 11-Year-Old Denied Making a Threat and Was Allowed to Return to School. Tennessee Police Arrested Him Anyway.
A state law makes threats of mass violence at school a felony, even if they’re not credible. Judges and school officials say the law unnecessarily traumatizes kids.
A Tennessee School Agreed to Pay $100,000 to Family of 11-Year-Old Student Arrested Under School Threats Law
Under the settlement, the Chattanooga charter school also agreed to implement training on how to handle threats of mass violence at school, including differentiating between “clearly innocuous statements” and “imminent” violence.
What We’re Watching
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