Under a new law, Ohio schools will have the authority to permanently expel kids for threatening actions like creating a hit list or carrying a gun to class.
On January 8, Governor Mike DeWine declared that he had signed House Bill 206, which was sponsored by Representatives Monica Robb Blasdel (R-Columbiana) and Gary Click (R-Vickery). Schools will have more discretion under the new rule when determining how long to deport a kid who presents a “imminent and severe endangerment” to the safety of others.
Bringing a knife or gun to school, threatening someone with a bomb, seriously hurting someone there, preparing a hit list, drafting a threatening manifesto, and posting a frightening message on social media are all examples of this.
“Parents are entrusting schools to protect their children while they are away from the home,” Click stated. “These situations can be complex, so this legislation allows school administrators to use their discretion to address the need that works best for their community.”
According to the organization Ohio Legal Help, public school kids who bring a pistol or knife to class, threaten to blow up the school, or do serious bodily harm to another person may be expelled for up to 180 days, or one school year, under the present legislation.
After 180 days for threatening behavior, the new law will permit a student’s expulsion to be extended by 90 days at a time, with no cap on the number of extensions permitted.
The student must fulfill a number of requirements imposed by the superintendent in order to be reinstated, one of which is having a psychiatrist conduct a psychological evaluation.
The superintendent and a “multidisciplinary team” they choose will determine whether to restore the student when the expulsion period is up. After considering the psychological evaluation, school administrators will decide if the pupil has demonstrated “sufficient rehabilitation.”
According to the law, the superintendent must provide the expelled student with a list of alternate educational possibilities. If they believe the student is no longer a threat, they will also be allowed to restore them before the expulsion period ends.
Several organizations voiced their opposition to the measure at its June 2023 introduction hearings.
Organizations expressed worries that the measure gives the superintendent excessive authority and may lead to the expulsion of minority pupils in a biased manner. In December, Click stated that he thinks the multidisciplinary board will help maintain power balance and stop prejudice.
Stephanie Moes, a managing attorney with the Legal Aid Society of Southwest Ohio, was one of the measure’s opponents.
She argued that the bill would have a detrimental effect on students’ academic performance, pointing out that expelled students are more likely to drop out and interact with the juvenile criminal system.
Huntington Beach Takes Stand, Declares Itself a ‘Non-Sanctuary City’
“H.B. 206 would also have devastating implications on the promise of educational opportunity and success for our children with disabilities, particularly those with mental health conditions,” Moes stated. “H.B. 206 has the real potential to increase mental health problems for children subjected to its lengthy, potentially indefinite, expulsion process.”
In his written statement, Moes further stated, “H.B. 206 would have devastating implications on the promise of educational opportunity and success for our children with disabilities, particularly those with mental health conditions. H.B. 206 has the real potential to increase mental health problems for children subjected to its lengthy, potentially indefinite, expulsion process.”
About The Author
