— In New York, the Supreme Court (the trial court in New York), held that educators have “ultimate authority for access to students, school buildings and school property.” The litigation arose out a dispute over access by a person responsible for an after-school program held on school grounds. As the relationship between the person and educators began to dissolve, including an incident in which the person “left the school grounds after being issued trespass papers,” educators sent a letter advising the person that “he was prohibited from entering upon any (school district) property without express prior written consent from the office of (the Superintendent).” The court upheld the decision by the school district. Applying clearly established law, the court ruled that “an unfettered right to access school grounds does not exist.” First, the court held that “a school has a duty to ensure the safety of its students in its physical custody or orbit of authority.” Second, “there is a long-standing judicial deference afforded local school boards to exercise ultimate authority for access to students, school buildings and school property.” Third, the test for examining the use of this authority is based upon the status of public schools as “a nonpublic forum (in which) the administrations thereof may therefore control access to the School based on subject matter and speaker identity so long as the distinctions drawn are reasonable in light of the purpose served by the forum and are viewpoint neutral.” The court cited the record to rule that “here, District Respondents implemented a requirement that petitioner must request written permission from Respondent Superintendent at least 72 hours in advance of entering school property based upon two documented confrontations.” Therefore, the school district “rationally determined that the school district’s decision to require that petitioner obtain written permission from its superintendent before he can enter school grounds, particularly where the restriction is subject to annual review at petitioner’s request, is entirely appropriate under the circumstances.” Wagner v. Rosa
— In Virginia, officials in the Newport News Public Schools are implementing safety upgrades to their campuses. The upgrades “include weapon detection systems, clear backpack requirements, expanded security staffing, and stricter visitor access procedures.” The new policies are viewed as a response to a “ 2024 grand jury report (that) found multiple safety concerns and administrative failures leading up to (a) shooting, in which first-grade teacher Abby Zwerner was shot by a 6-year-old student who brought a gun to school.
— In Missouri, the legislature is considering adding armed “Missouri Rangers” to school campuses to enhance student safety. House Bill 905 would “allow schools to hire volunteer or paid guards called “Missouri Rangers” who could carry a gun on school grounds.” The legislation “proposes a maximum of 160 hours of training, specifying that the program must include lessons on “close quarter combat,” bomb and arson training, de-escalation among others.”
— In Delaware, the legislature is recommending a policy “that would allow trained and authorized employees to carry guns on private school property.” Senate Bill 304 “would create an exemption within Delaware’s Safe School Zone law to allow designated “sentries” to carry a gun or projectile weapon on private school campuses under strict training and oversight requirements.” Each person “would have to be employees of the private school and hold a valid concealed carry permit or qualifying law enforcement credentials.”