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There is no federal law against corporal punishment of pupils in schools in the United States.
In 1977, the United States Supreme Court ruled that the Eight Amendment clause prohibiting “cruel and unusual punishments” did not apply to school students, and the case also clarified that teachers did not require parental permission to carry out corporal punishment. The Supreme Court upheld the disciplinary corporal punishment policy of Florida’s public schools by a 5–4 vote. For more information, see the case Ingraham vs. Wright, 430 U.S. 651 (1977).
In states where corporal punishment of pupils is legal, it is legal from kindergarten to the end of high school. Even someone who is aged 18 or above can be punished in this fashion if they are still in high school.
State by state
- Only two states have outlawed corporal punishment in both public and private schools: New Jersey and Iowa.
- As of 2019, corporal punishment in public schools had been outlawed in 31 states and in the District of Columbia.
- In North Carolina, there is no state-level ban but every school district prohibits corporal punishment in public schools.
- Some U.S. states permit corporal punishment of pupils but have enacted strict laws about exactly how it can be carried out. Alabama does, for instance, permit it in both public and private schools, but it must be carried out with a wooden paddle approximately 24 inches long, 3 inches wide and ½ inch thick. Texas is an example of a state where school staff have much more freedom to design the nature of corporal punishment.
U.S. states where corporal punishment is banned in both public and private schools
- New Jersey banned corporal punishment in both public and private schools in 1867.
- Iowa banned corporal punishment in both public and private schools in 1989.
U.S. states where corporal punishment is banned in public schools
| Alaska
California Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Hawaii Illinois Iowa Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Dakota Ohio Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Dakota Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin |
Banned since 1989
Banned since 1986 Banned since 1989 Banned since 2003 Banned since 1977 Banned since 1973 Banned since 1993 Banned since 1989 Banned since 1975 Banned since 1993 Banned since 1971 Banned since 1989 Banned since 1989 Banned since 1991 Banned since 1988 Banned since 1993 Banned since 1983 Banned since 1867 Banned since 2011 Banned since 1985 Banned since 1989 Banned since 2009 Banned since 1989 Banned since 2005 Banned since 1977 Banned since 1990 Banned since 1992 Banned since 1985 Banned since 1989 Banned since 1993 Banned since 1994 Banned since 1988 |
Important notes:
- There is no state-level ban for public schools in North Carolina, but the practice has been banned by every school district in the state since October 2018.
- In Mississippi, corporal punishement in public school is not permitted for pupils with disabilities or special education plans. This rule came into force in July 2019.
U.S. states where corporal punishment is legal in private schools but not in public schools
| Alaska
California Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Hawaii Illinois Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Dakota Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin |
Important notes:
- There is no state-level ban for public schools in North Carolina, but the practice has been banned by every school district in the state since October 2018.
- In Mississippi, corporal punishement in public school is not permitted for pupils with disabilities or special education plans. This rule came into force in July 2019.
U.S. states where corporal punishment is legal in both public schools and private schools
| Alabama
Arizona Arkansas Colorado Florida Georgia Idaho Indiana Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Missouri Oklahoma South Carolina Tennessee Texas Wyoming |