Under what circumstances must a school take special action according to the Tarasoff precedent?

The Tarasoff precedent, originating from a legal case in California, established the duty of mental health professionals to protect individuals who may be at risk of harm from a patient. This legal principle is crucial in school psychology, as it mandates that if a student makes threats toward a third party, the school is required to take specific actions to ensure the safety of that individual. This could include notifying law enforcement, alerting parents, or taking other protective measures.

In the context of the other options: while academic failure, disruptive behavior, and signs of emotional distress are important issues that schools should address, they do not invoke the same level of legal obligation as a direct threat to another person’s safety. The Tarasoff ruling highlights the responsibility educators and mental health professionals have to intervene when there is a clear and immediate risk of violence, making the scenario of a child threatening third parties the one that necessitates special action.