NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — A Tennessee law that made school threats a zero-tolerance offense has led to a surge in expulsions in some school districts, according to data confirmed by News 2.
The law, which went into effect July 2023 , “requires a student to be considered in violation of a zero-tolerance offense” for making a threat against a school, resulting in expulsion for one year.
“I think what we’re doing is really sending a message that says, ‘Hey, this is not a joke, this is not a joking matter, so don’t do this,’” Sen Jon Lundberg (R-Bristol) said.
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The bill passed just days before the Covenant School shooting in March of 2023 where three students and three staff members were tragically killed.
“In the law, you’ll also see that a school director, director of schools, school board does have the ability to take a look at it at a case-by-case basis, but across the board in general it’s a zero-tolerance offense,” Sen. Lundberg said.