School Discipline Laws & Regulations by Category
- Click on the major categories below to view and select the law and regulation subcategory of interest.
- You will then be asked to select one or more state or jurisdiction of interest.
Hover your cursor over the question mark for definitions for each subcategory. Hover over note numbers for content of notes. See also Notes section at bottom of the page.
Grounds for possible suspension or expulsion
Grounds for mandatory suspension or expulsion
Limitations, conditions, or exclusions for use of suspension and expulsion
Administrative procedures related to suspension and expulsion 1
In-school suspension
Return to school following removal
Use of restraint and seclusion 2
Alternative placements
1 See also subcategory "In-school suspension" for additional information about the provision of academic work during periods of exclusion.
2 The U.S. Department of Education has provided a Resource Document on the use of seclusion and restraint in schools. This document is available at: www.ed.gov/policy/restraintseclusion.
3 The Federal Gun-Free Schools Act requires that each State receiving Federal education funds under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) (20 U.S.C. § 7151) must have in place a law that requires local school districts to expel, for at least one year, any student who brings a firearm to, or possesses a firearm at, a school, unless the local school district’s chief administering officer modifies that sanction in writing, on a case-by-case basis. See ESEA § 4141(b)(1) (20 U.S.C. § 7151(b)(1)); see also Guidance Concerning State and Local Responsibilities Under the Gun-Free Schools Act, U.S. Dep’t of Educ., Jan. 2004 available at http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osdfs/gfsa.html.
4 See also subcategory “Reporting & referrals between schools and law enforcement” and major category “School Resource and Safety Officers (SROs/SSOs) and Truant/ Attendance Officers” for additional information regarding truant officers’ responsibilities and authority.
5 See also the “Prevention” and “State model policies and implementation support” sections for additional information about non-punitive policies related to bullying, harassment, and hazing.