School Districts Implement Backpack Bans and Clear Bag Policies for Safety Reasons

Flint Community Schools in Michigan have banned backpacks for over 2,800 students across 11 campuses due to concerns over student safety after threats and incidents of weapons being brought to school. The ban will remain in effect until at least the end of the school year. The ban allows bags the size of small purses, but some parents and experts question its effectiveness, with concerns that determined students will carry weapons under their clothing. Backpack bans have been rolled out in other communities recently, including one put in place this week at an elementary school in Ocala, Florida, after a student brought in a toy gun that looked real.