Stricter School Discipline Procedures Gain Momentum Amid Post-Pandemic Disruptions

As President Donald Trump's executive order pushes for "common sense" school discipline, more states are following suit, expanding the authority of teachers and school officials to deal with disruptive students. In West Virginia, a new law creates a structured process for responding to violent, threatening, or disruptive behavior among students in grades K-6, while Texas lawmakers are considering a bill that would allow students as young as third grade to be suspended for repeated disruptions or threats. However, critics argue that these policies would disproportionately harm students of color, students with disabilities, and those from low-income backgrounds.

Key Takeaways:

• West Virginia's new law creates a structured process for responding to violent, threatening, or disruptive behavior among students in grades K-6, allowing for immediate removal from class, evaluation by counselors or behavioral specialists, and placement on an individualized behavior plan.
• Texas lawmakers are considering a bill, known as the "Teacher's Bill of Rights," which would significantly expand the grounds for out-of-school suspensions, allowing students to be suspended for repeated disruptions or threats beginning in third grade.
• Critics argue that these policies would impose a one-size-fits-all punitive approach, rather than addressing students' developmental and behavioral needs, and would disproportionately harm students of color, students with disabilities, and those from low-income backgrounds.
• Some states, such as Michigan, have passed laws promoting restorative practices in schools, which aim to repair harm rather than exclude students.
• Maryland passed a law requiring the state to establish "restorative practices schools," specific schools with trained educators who use restorative approaches in everyday discipline.
• Education advocates warn that an even deeper issue is unfolding inside classrooms: the gradual erosion of behavioral expectations and academic rigor, which they argue is quietly undermining educational outcomes.

Statistics:

• According to the U.S. Department of Education, Black students faced the highest rates of disciplinary action across all categories during the 2020-21 school year, with a 39% higher likelihood of receiving in-school suspensions, a 70% higher likelihood of facing out-of-school suspensions, and a 71% higher likelihood of being expelled compared to white students.
• Black students with disabilities experienced suspension and expulsion rates far exceeding those of both their white peers and non-disabled students.

Sources:

• "Shaken by post-pandemic disruptions, some states take a harder line on school discipline" by Stateline.
• "Trump's school choice push adds to momentum in statehouses" by Stateline.
• "Rethink Discipline Toolkit" by Student Advocacy Center.
• HB197/2025, Maryland's law requiring the establishment of "restorative practices schools".
• "Community circles" as a restorative practice used by Kimberly Hellerich, an assistant professor at Sacred Heart University.
• Foundation for C.H.O.I.C.E.'s mission to promote discipline, responsibility, and rigor in schools.