COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio legislators recently approved a bill that will strengthen school administrators’ authority to expel students that pose an “imminent threat.”
The Ohio House of Representatives approved Wednesday House Bill 334, which allows superintendents to expel students that pose “imminent and severe endangerment to the health and safety” of other students and campus staff for up to 180 school days. Currently, administrators can suspend students for 80 days, Cleveland.com reports.
As part of the arrangement, school personnel will be required to draft a checklist that the student must complete before returning to school, including a psychological evaluation. The school would also be required to pay for the evaluation.
If the student shows sufficient rehabilitation, he or she will be allowed to return to school soon than 180 days. If no improvement has been show, the student could be expelled again for up to 90 days.
The bill, which passed in a 70-27 vote, now goes to the Senate.
