FRANKFORT, Ky. — Kentucky State Police and the Kentucky Department of Education issued statements Thursday in response to the recent threats of school violence in the state.

Both departments recommend parents have a conversation with their children regarding the risks and consequences of making an online threat toward a school, and should encourage children to report any suspicious or concerning online behavior immediately. While the departments warned that false reports can cause unnecessary fear and confusion, KSP emphasized that no one should feel discouraged from reporting concerning threats.

Kentucky Revised Statute 508 states, in part, that threats of violence against any public or private school, toward a school bus or another school vehicle, or any public or private building "that is the site of an official school-sanctioned function" are terroristic threatening first degree. The class C felony carries a punishment of up to 5 to 10 years in prison, according to KSP's news release.

An August report showed that 99.81% of Kentucky schools are in compliance with the School Safety and Resiliency Act.

Since 2022, Kentucky public schools are required to employ a student resource officer, and the number or SROs in schools has increased to 790, the news release said.

Read the full statements below:

“Kentucky State Police will continue to work with school resource officers, local law enforcement and school administrators to ensure the safety of all students. As a trooper and a father who has children in our school system, I can assure you that we will take any threat seriously and make arrests where possible.” —Kentucky State Police Commissioner Phillip Burnett Jr.

“There is no greater trust — or responsibility — that can be given to our schools than a parent or guardian saying he or she trusts us with his or her child. While we are concerned about the amount of time our students are missing due to these hoaxes, our primary concern is the safety and well-being of the students and staff members that are in our schools every day across Kentucky. We ask our families to talk with their students about the very real and serious consequences that can happen if they call in a threat against another student or their school. A threat like this can result in a student facing suspension, expulsion and/or alternative placements, in addition to the consequences from our justice system.” —Kentucky Department of Education Commissioner Robbie Fletcher