— In Pennsylvania, the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania upheld the decision by school officials to deny a new student permission to attend school in-person. The school required the student to participate in remote-learning because he was expelled for possessing a weapon at his former school. The court ruled that the provisions of state law requiring zero tolerance expulsion for weapons violations also authorized “(a) school district receiving a student who transfers from a public or private school during a period of expulsion for an act or offense involving a weapon (to) assign that student to an alternative assignment or provide alternative education services.” R.S. by R.S. v. Hempfield Area School District
— In Maryland, school superintendents across the state met to compare notes and consider additional means to provide safe campuses for their students. The school superintendents affirmed their commitment to collaborating with police and other groups, while looking to implement new programs such as “student safety assistants,” who would build relationships with students. Baltimore County is planning to a pilot program this fall semester.
— In Maryland, a new agreement between the school district, police, and the county, is restructuring its school resource officer program. The Community Engagement Officer (CEO) 2.0 Program, will shift officers into a community oriented focus, including more serious crimes like sexual assault, robbery, and physical attacks. The officers will not be stationed inside schools and are not allowed to enforce school rules.
— In Georgia, officials in the Clayton County Public Schools are banning backpacks for all students, effective immediately. Students will no longer be allowed to use school lockers, forcing students to carry all their belongings during the school day. The new policy is in direct response to an increase in weapons in campuses. As part of the new policy, “students will now be subject to random searches, will have to pass through metal detectors and will now see more police K-9 units on campus.”