LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Kentucky schools are starting the new school year with stricter rules for students who assault teachers or other staff members.

Hardin County Schools is just one of many districts around the state getting ready to implement Senate Bill 101. The law requires a one year expulsion for any student in grades 6-12 who is determined to have "intentionally caused or attempted to cause physical injury to a school district employee on school property or at a school function under the board's jurisdiction."

In other words, students accused of intentionally hurting a teacher or other school employee will no longer go through the same discipline process many districts have used for years.

Before the new law, Hardin County Schools Chief Academic Officer Gregory Sutton said students accused of assaulting a staff member were typically suspended while the district investigated. Those cases then went before a discipline review committee, which met with administrators, the student and their family before deciding whether to recommend expulsion to the school board.

Now, Sutton said that extra step is gone.

"You're going in front of the board immediately, without that discipline review committee meeting," he said.

If the school board finds that the student intentionally injured or tried to injure a school employee, the student will be expelled for at least one year. The law also requires school employees to immediately report those incidents to law enforcement, with criminal penalties for anyone who intentionally fails to do so.

Sutton said the district has already updated its policies to reflect the new law ahead of the upcoming school year. 

Also known as the Classroom Safety 101 Act, the bill was sponsored by Sen. Matt Nunn, R-Sadieville, and several other Republican lawmakers.

The bill also states that school boards must adopt a policy that requires disciplinary actions "up to and including expulsion from school" for students who physically assault or abuse another student on school property, at a bus stop, or at a school function or who physically assault or abuse school other students off school property and the incident is likely to substantially disrupt the educational process.

This portion of the bill does not require school boards to move to automatic expulsions for student-on-student attacks, but it does put expulsion on the table. 

According to the bill, "the board may modify the expulsion requirement and length for students on a case-by-case basis," when assessing student-on-student attacks. 

There is no leniency in the expulsion policy for student-on-teacher attacks.

In a statement, a spokesperson for the Kentucky Senate Majority said it has "full confidence" school districts recognize "the importance of these protections for the educators and staff who dedicate themselves to Kentucky students every day."

According to the Kentucky Department of Education's most recent Safe Schools Report, schools recorded 6,451 assault and violence incidents during the 2024-25 school year. The report includes a category for "abuse of a teacher," but it does not specify how many of those incidents involved teachers.

Sutton said he believes the tougher approach will help make schools safer.

"Mandatory expulsion for those things are needed," Sutton said. "And it'll be good to know that our schools are safe and that our kids are safe."

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