Expulsions for school threats increase one year after ‘zero-tolerance’ law passes

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.

📧 Have breaking news come to you: Subscribe to News 2 email alerts →

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.

Some school districts told News 2 the law has contributed to an uptick in expulsions.

According to data from Metro Nashville Public Schools, before the law went into effect, the district investigated 165 threats during the 2021-2022 school year, and expelled less than 10 students as a result. The following school year, MNPS investigated 146 threats and expelled 22 students.

During the 2023-2024 school year, the first school year the law was in effect, MNPS investigated 150 threats and expelled 42 students.

“The seriousness of the offenses, heightened sensitivity and awareness following the Covenant shooting, combined with the creation of a zero-tolerance law all contributed to increased expulsions,” a spokesperson for MNPS told News 2 in an email.

Rutherford County Schools expelled six students for making school threats before the law went into effect, according to data sent to News 2, and 33 students during the 2023-2024 school year, after the law went into effect.

RCS credited a change in a state law “that required expulsions for mass threats” as the reason for the uptick.

⏩ Read today’s top stories on wkrn.com

The zero tolerance law allowed directors of schools to modify expulsions on a “case-by-case basis,” however, during the 2024 legislative session, lawmakers passed a bill requiring expulsion only if the threat is determined as valid through a threat assessment.

The new law went into effect before the 2024-2025 school year.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.