Protecting our Students in Schools Act of 2025

This legislation would ban corporal punishment in any school or program that receives federal funds. That means no hitting, spanking, paddling, forcing painful positions, or using chemical spray or stun guns to discipline students. It applies to school staff, police, and school security guards. The bill defines “corporal punishment” as any deliberate act that causes physical pain for discipline, including the examples above.

If corporal punishment happens, the school must notify parents, the state, and local law enforcement within 24 hours; if the student has a disability, the state’s protection and advocacy system must also be told. Families can sue, the Justice Department can bring a case, and the Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights will take and investigate complaints and can cut off funds or require changes.

States and districts must file school climate reports, train staff, and move toward positive, research-based approaches (like restorative practices and de-escalation) to reduce suspensions, expulsions, arrests, and referrals. The federal government can award three-year grants to states (and subgrants to districts) to support this work, with priority for schools with high discipline rates or big racial/disability gaps. Data must be broken out by race, gender, disability, and English learner status, and reports will be made public.

These rules also apply to schools run by the Departments of Defense and the Interior. Most private schools that don’t take federal funds and homeschools are not covered. States can still have stricter bans.

• Who is affected: Students, families, and staff in schools that receive federal funds; also schools run by the Defense and Interior Departments. Most private schools without federal funds and homeschools are not covered.
• What changes: Corporal punishment is banned; 24-hour parent notification is required; families can sue; the Justice Department and the Education Department’s civil rights office can enforce the law; states must report on school climate and train staff; grants support positive behavior approaches; data will be broken out to track fairness.
• When: Federal rules must be issued within 180 days of enactment; states’ first climate reports are due within one year; grants run for three years; funding is authorized for fiscal year 2025 and each year after.