How States Are Strengthening School Threat and Violence Laws
Recent legislation in Alabama and Kentucky is changing how schools respond to threats, violence, and assaults against school employees. Here's what districts should know.
School safety laws continue to evolve as states respond to various concerns, including threats and assaults against school employees. Recent legislation in Alabama and Kentucky illustrates how states are updating requirements for incident response, disciplinary procedures, and coordination with law enforcement.
Although the laws address different issues, both may require districts to review existing policies and procedures to ensure they align with new state requirements.
Alabama Expands Requirements for Responding to School Threats
Beginning July 1, Alabama's new school safety law establishes additional requirements for responding to credible school threats. Among other provisions, students charged with making a school threat must generally be removed from the regular classroom while the case is pending. Before returning, they may be required to complete a mental health evaluation and participate in a due process hearing, depending on the circumstances.
The law also increases penalties for certain school threat offenses and allows courts to order restitution for emergency response costs associated with false threats. Supporters say the legislation is intended to improve consistency in how schools respond while emphasizing both accountability and appropriate intervention.
While Alabama's new law establishes legal requirements following a credible threat, many districts already use behavioral threat assessment teams to evaluate concerning behavior, assess risk, and determine appropriate interventions before and after a threat is reported.
Kentucky Strengthens Protections for School Employees
Kentucky recently took a different approach, focusing on violence directed at school personnel. Senate Bill 101 requires school districts to adopt policies calling for the expulsion of students in grades 6–12 for at least one year if they intentionally assault or attempt to physically injure a school employee on school property or during a school-sponsored activity. The law also requires school employees to immediately report qualifying incidents to law enforcement and streamlines the disciplinary process in many districts.
The legislation establishes new expectations for district policies, reporting, and disciplinary procedures involving assaults against school employees. As districts implement the law, they may need to review board policies, reporting procedures, staff training, and coordination with law enforcement.
Prevention Still Happens Before a Crisis
While recent legislation focuses on how schools respond after threats or acts of violence occur, many districts continue investing in behavioral threat assessment and early intervention to identify concerning behavior and connect students with appropriate supports.
Protecting School Personnel Requires a Broader Approach
Recent legislation has largely focused on student threats and assaults, but school personnel may also encounter aggression from parents, guardians, and other members of the public.
A recent study from The Ohio State University found that school administrators reported experiencing verbal and threatening aggression from parents more frequently than teachers or school mental health professionals. The researchers suggested these findings highlight the importance of having clear procedures for documenting incidents, supporting employees, and responding to aggressive behavior from parents or other members of the public.
Although Alabama and Kentucky have taken different approaches, both laws illustrate how states continue to refine expectations for responding to school threats and violence.
As districts review new legal requirements, many are also continuing to strengthen behavioral threat assessment, early intervention, and other processes designed to identify concerns and support appropriate responses.