U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.

How prevalent are adverse academic outcomes following a school threat assessment?

NCJ Number
311635
Journal
Preventing School Failure Volume: 70 Issue: 1 Dated: 2026 Pages: 44-55
Date Published
November 2025
Length
12 pages
Abstract

Behavioral threat assessment and management (BTAM) has become a widely used violence prevention strategy in U.S. schools. Previous studies have examined behavioral and disciplinary outcomes; this large-scale study examined adverse academic outcomes including course failure, state achievement test failure, grade retention, and dropout for 2287 students from 202 Florida high schools who received a threat assessment. State test failure rates were lower and dropout rates were similar to the general student enrollment. Bayesian multilevel logistic regression analyses found students who made substantive threats and Black students were at increased risk for adverse academic outcomes. Overall, study results indicate that many students receiving a threat assessment have academic support needs, but adverse academic outcomes do not appear to be elevated compared to the general student population.

(Publisher abstract provided.)

Date Published: November 1, 2025