In Tennessee, state prosecutors say the failure of principals, counselors and teachers to report suspected abuse to proper authorities has become an epidemic. State law mandates any adult with a suspicion or direct knowledge of child abuse must report it immediately to either child services or the police. Not doing so is a misdemeanor and could mean jail time.

The Ohio Court of Appeals ruled that a school could discipline a student for his off-campus speech. The student participated in a message group that posed a threat to the school. The school's emergency removal, suspension, and expulsion did not violate the student's Due Process or First Amendment rights. [N.Z. v. Madison Board of Education]

The United States District Court ruled that school officials did not discriminate against a student, neither by race nor religion, by imposing a three-day suspension after he brought to school a homemade contraption containing wires and batteries that made a beeping sound. [Mohamed for A.M. v. Irving Independent School District]

The Ohio Supreme Court ruled that the policy that requires school officials to search unattended book bags is valid. A bus driver found a book bag, gave it to an SRO, who gave it to the school principal. Upon emptying the bag, bullets were discovered. A subsequent search of the student turned up a handgun. [State v. Polk]

​School Safety Law News – August 23, 2017​​

Bernard James Professor of Constitutional and Education Law Pepperdine University School of Law Blog: http://schoolsafetylawblog.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/schoolsafetylaw