Ruling Forces Shift In School Expulsion Policy

WELLS (AP) - Minnesota students returning to classes this week likely will face a different expulsion policy should they bring weapons to school.

A recent ruling by the Minnesota Supreme Court now requires schools to investigate a student's intent when weapons that aren't firearms show up in school. In order to expel a student, the school must determine that the student willfully violated school policy on weapons.

The court's decision stems from a lawsuit brought by now 19-year-old Alyssa Drescher, a United South Central High School student who was expelled for inadvertently bringing a knife to school in 2014.

United South Central's superintendent says the ruling will force administrators to conduct time-consuming inquiries about a student's state of mind, but reminds students that schools can still enact punishment.