Tennessee Code Title 49. Education § 49-6-4203

(1) The removal of dangerous weapons, drug paraphernalia and drugs from school property is necessary to lessen hazards to students and that removal can only be accomplished by searches of areas of the school buildings or grounds where those materials may be stored;

(2) On occasions when the use of dangerous weapons or drugs has reached a life or health threatening level, searches of students themselves may be necessary to protect the larger student body, and that often the searches must be conducted in emergency situations;

(3) Individual circumstances and local particularities require that individual principals must be relied on to exercise their professionally trained judgments in determining what action is appropriate within this part; and

(4) The presence on school property of students with drugs in their bodies may pose a threat to the safety and well-being of that student and other students, may be disruptive of school classes and other programs and may interfere with the educational opportunities and progress of all students.