Discipline

Learn more about how schools handle student discipline and how disciplinary actions affect students
Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights for the Department of Education nominee Kimberly Richey testifies before the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committee about her nomination in Washington, D.C., on June 5, 2025.
Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Kimberley Richey testifies before the Senate's Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committee at her nomination hearing in Washington on June 5, 2025. A new letter to educators from Richey instructs schools not to consider race at all in school discipline policies, following the Trump administration's rescission of longtime anti-discrimination rules.
Jason Andrew for Education Week
Federal Education Department Tells Schools Race Can’t Factor Into Student Discipline
A letter to educators follows up on last month's rescission of longstanding discrimination rules.
Mark Walsh, August 18, 2026
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5 min read
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Lylah Bobowski, 3, plays in the outdoor playground of the Head Start Center in Athens, Pa., on August 13, 2026.
Md. Zobayer Hossain Joati for Education Week
Early Childhood What This Rural Head Start Program Stands to Lose With Federal Changes
The federal government just announced plans to de-regulate Head Start. Here's what this might mean.
Elizabeth Heubeck, August 14, 2026
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10 min read
Deepfake victim Francesca Mani speaks at a news conference promoting the passage of the DEFIANCE Act at the Capitol, Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, in Washington. Schools need to amend their cyberbullying policies to stem the spread of deepfakes and protect victims.
Deepfake victim Francesca Mani speaks at a news conference promoting the passage of the DEFIANCE Act at the Capitol, Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, in Washington. Schools need to amend their cyberbullying policies to stem the spread of deepfakes and protect victims.
Allison Robbert/ AP Photo
Artificial Intelligence Deepfakes Are Supercharging Cyberbullying. How Should Schools Respond?
The focus should be on prevention, not punishment, experts say.
Olina Banerji, August 6, 2026
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4 min read
Amanda Jamerson.
Amanda Jamerson, the associate principal at Wisconsin's Shorewood High School, at the National Education Leadership Awards gala on April 17, 2026, in Washington.
NASSP
School & District Management High School Assistant Principal of the Year Focuses on Equity, Student Behavior
Amanda Jamerson focused on addressing student discipline.
Jennifer Vilcarino, April 21, 2026
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5 min read
Rogelio Hernandez and Alex Volkov, New Teacher Support Coaches, interact during New Teacher Support Coaches Professional Learning session on November 7, 2025 at Center for Professional Development in Fresno. California.
Rogelio Hernandez and Alex Volkov are coaches who support new teachers in the Fresno, Calif., district on Nov. 7, 2025. Many teachers say they want more opportunities to practice classroom management skills; a new framework has some ideas about how teacher-prep programs might structure these opportunities.
Andri Tambunan for Education Week
Teacher Preparation Aspiring Teachers Aren't Being Prepared to Handle Student Behavior Problems
Teacher-quality group unveils a new teacher-prep framework for managing classrooms.
Sarah D. Sparks, April 14, 2026
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4 min read
Students pass a talking piece during a restorative justice exercise at a school in Oakland, Calif., on June 11, 2013.
A student receives the talking piece from another student during a restorative justice session at a school in Oakland, Calif., on June 11, 2013. Nathan Maynard, the author of a newly released book on student discipline, says restorative practices are often misunderstood.
Lea Suzuki/San Francisco Chronicle via AP
School Climate & Safety Q&A Restorative Practices Aren't Consequence-Free, Says a Student Discipline Expert
Consistent consequences are important to managing student behavior, says the author of a new book on discipline.
Olina Banerji, April 13, 2026
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6 min read
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A sign reminds students about classroom norms at an elementary school on Aug. 15, 2025 in Bowie, Md. Many teachers in a recent Education Week survey said student behavior was a top problem—and affected their morale.
Pete Kiehart for Education Week
Teaching Profession Teachers Say Student Behavior Has Made the Job (Almost) Impossible
Teachers say their morale is affected when student misbehavior is on the rise.
Olina Banerji, March 24, 2026
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3 min read
Students eat breakfast and color in Topaz Stotts' second-grade classroom before school starts at Klatt Elementary School in Anchorage, Aug. 17, 2021. Debate over school funding is dominating the Alaska Legislature as districts face teacher shortages and in some cases multimillion-dollar deficits. Schools have cut programs, increased class sizes or had teachers and administrators take on extra roles. (Emily Mesner/Anchorage Daily News via AP, File)
Students eat breakfast and color before the start of the school day in a second grade classroom at Klatt Elementary School in Anchorage, Alaska, on Aug. 17, 2021. Some districts around the country are turning to behavior tutors and similar staff roles to help address student behavior challenges and support teachers.
Emily Mesner/Anchorage Daily News via AP
Student Well-Being & Movement The School Role Helping Prevent Misbehavior Before It Starts
Experienced teachers can spot signs of trouble in students early in the school day.
Olina Banerji, March 13, 2026
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7 min read
Image of a school hallway with students moving.
iStock/Getty
School & District Management How Assistant Principals Build Stronger School Communities
From middle to high school, assistant principals share what they've done to increase engagement and better student behavior.
Jennifer Vilcarino, March 11, 2026
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7 min read
Seen is the drawing made by Viejo Elementary School first-grader B.B. that was entered into evidence. B.B. gave the drawing to her classmate, M.C., who is African American. M.C. thanked B.B.
Pictured is a drawing by a 1st grader in California and given to a Black classmate that is at the center of a First Amendment legal challenge over the student's alleged punishment.
U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit
Law & Courts Appeals Court Revives Lawsuit Over 1st Grader’s Black Lives Matter Drawing
A court revived a 1st grader 's claim she was punished for giving a drawing to a Black classmate.
Mark Walsh, March 11, 2026
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4 min read
Students on their way to class at the Paul M. Hodgson Vocational Technical High School in Newark, Delaware on Wednesday February 18, 2026.
Students make their way to class at the Paul M. Hodgson Vocational Technical High School in Newark, Delaware on February 18, 2026. The school's assistant principal, Rasheem Hollis, plays a key role in brokering resolutions when parents and teachers disagree about student discipline.
Demetrius Freeman for Education Week
Families & the Community Teachers Say Behavior Problems Aren't Just About Students. It’s the Parents
Parents are the third rail of the discipline conversation. Teachers say they need backup from their school leaders.
Olina Banerji, March 4, 2026
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10 min read
artistic collage of teacher under pressure
Vanessa Solis/Education Week via Canva
Teaching Profession Teacher Morale in 2026: Five Takeaways
See five highlights from EdWeek's annual, national survey of U.S. teachers.
Holly Kurtz & Maya Riser-Kositsky, March 4, 2026
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1 min read
Image of students in isolation in artistic manner with red evocative color and shadows.
Laura Baker/Education Week & Getty
Special Education Investigation Finds 'Shocking Overuse' of Seclusion and Restraint in This District
Restraint and seclusion should not be used in routine school discipline, the Justice Department says.
Evie Blad, February 24, 2026
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5 min read
Image of a student sitting outside of a doorway.
DigitalVision
School Climate & Safety Informal Classroom Discipline Is Hard to Track, Raising Big Equity Concerns
Without adequate support, teachers might resort to these tactics to circumvent prohibitions on suspensions.
Evie Blad, January 23, 2026
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5 min read