Schools don’t say when kids who make threats return to campus | Tacoma News Tribune

In the Puyallup School District, parents are alarmed to learn that a student who previously threatened a shooting was allowed back on campus. This revelation came after concerned parent Shannon Sullivan kept her daughter home from school due to the threat. The district, citing privacy laws, has been reluctant to disclose details about the situation, leading to frustration among parents who feel they deserve to be informed for their children's safety. Sullivan's efforts to rally support for greater transparency highlight the conflict between student privacy rights and parental rights to know about potential dangers. School safety experts noted that disclosing such information could violate laws protecting students' educational records, complicating the issue further.

They emphasized that while schools can share information internally, specifics of incidents involving students are often considered personally identifiable information. The article brings attention to the challenging balance between protecting student privacy and ensuring a safe educational environment. As parents advocate for more information, the discussion about how schools communicate safety risks remains crucial and unresolved.