ORLANDO, Fla. – Orange County Public Schools is urging parents to take the district’s new threats and weapons course so there is no room for misunderstanding:
- A student making a false report of a threat against a school will lead to a recommendation for expulsion.
- A student making a threat against a school will lead to a recommendation for expulsion.
- A student threatening someone online or in person will lead to a recommendation for expulsion.
The details come from a new threats and weapons course OCPS middle and high school students were urged to take last month. Elementary school students are supposed to have a more “age-appropriate” review of changes.
On Friday, the school district sent an email urging parents and guardians to also check the course out so that they understand and then talk to their children.
“It is crucial for parents and guardians to review this course to understand the implications fully and to have an informed discussion with their children. Even threats made in jest can have significant, life-altering consequences, so it is essential to take this matter seriously,” the email read.
While the email doesn’t spell out the consequences, the course itself makes clear there is only one consequence for fake or real threats to a school, or to another person. The penalty is a recommendation for expulsion, which means the student cannot attend an OCPS public, alternative, or charter school for a minimum of 180 days.
The course also shows that possession of a gun or another dangerous object will also lead to a recommendation for expulsion.
Florida law already has a zero-tolerance policy for threats, false reports of threats, or bringing a weapon to school. However, the law gives school districts some discretion on whether to offer continuing education services or to consider the 1-year expulsion requirement on a case-by-case basis and assign students to a disciplinary program or second-chance school.
A recommendation for expulsion does not always end in a student being expelled.
However, the rise in school threats, or online rumors of threats, including threats reported to the Fortify FL app, has prompted a crackdown by school districts and law enforcement around the state.
Florida Schools Commissioner Manny Diaz sent a letter to districts last month directing them to make the online course available.
Letter to Superintendents 10.16.24 by Christie Zizo on Scribd
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