海角社区

Student Discipline

Contact Information

School Safety
360-725-6068

Useful Links and Materials

Washington public schools are committed to providing a safe and supportive learning environment for all students.This page offers information, guidance, and resources to help understand and implement the new discipline rules and state requirements.

Laws and Rules

This section gives a clear overview of the new student discipline rules for Washington public schools applying to all K-12 students, including key  from the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) and from the Washington Administrative Code (WAC). It also includes information on additional protections for students eligible for special education or Section 504 services.

2025 Revised Discipline Rules

The updated student discipline rules (Chapter , ,  WAC) were adopted on June 10, 2025. These rules are permanent and take effect 31 days later, on July 11, 2025. School districts must ensure their policies comply with these laws and promote fairness for everyone. Check the resources below to see what has changed following the adoption of the permanent rules. 海角社区 Rulemaking Activity also provides information on the full rulemaking process.

Revised Code of Washington (RCW) Laws 

School District Policies and Procedures

  • : Enforcement of rules of conduct-Due process guarantees-Computation of days for short-term and long-term suspensions.
  • : Expulsions and suspensions-Rules incorporating due process-Short-term and long-term suspensions-Emergency removals-Discretionary discipline.
  • : Exclusion of student from classroom-Written disciplinary procedures-Long-term suspension or expulsion.
  • : Suspended or expelled students-Reengagement plan.
  • : Alternatives to suspension-Encouraged.
  • : Classroom discipline-Policies-Classroom placement of student offenders-Data on disciplinary actions.
  • : Discipline policies, procedures, and rules-Dissemination of information-Use of disaggregated data-Review.
  • : Model school district discipline policies-Adoption and enforcement by school districts.
  • Nutrition, health, and physical education model policy and procedure - Discourage withholding recess as a disciplinary or punitive action.

海角社区 Rule Making Authority

  • : Expulsions and suspensions-Rules incorporating due process-Short-term and long-term suspensions-Emergency removals-Discretionary discipline.
  • : Exclusion of student from classroom-Written disciplinary procedures-Long-term suspension or expulsion.

Discipline Data

  • : Classroom discipline-Policies-Classroom placement of student offenders-Data on disciplinary actions.
  • : Collection and submittal of student-level data-Student data-related reports-Disaggregation of data by subgroups-Modification of statewide student data systems.
  • : "Student absence from school"-Rules-Collection of attendance and discipline data.
  • : Discipline policies, procedures, and rules-Dissemination of information-Use of disaggregated data-Review.
Washington Administrative Code (WAC) Rules

on Student Discipline outlines the rights and responsibilities of students, parents/guardians, and districts when discipline is administered at school. Other sections include guidance on:

  • Purpose / Authority / Application / Definitions
  • Discipline Policies
  • Classroom Exclusions
  • Suspensions and Expulsions
  • Emergency Removals
  • Educational Services
  • Reengagement
  • Additional Due Process Protection
School Board Policies & Procedures

In accordance with , every school district’s board of directors must adopt local discipline policies and procedures consistent with Federal and State laws, 海角社区’ discipline rules under chapter , and the Washington State School Directors’ Association (WSSDA) model discipline policy established under .

School board policies and procedures must outline each district’s guidance and scope of authority regarding student discipline as required under , and be made available to students, families, and the community. 

offers model policies, procedures and forms for use:

Protections for Students with Disabilities

Washington State student discipline laws apply to all K–12 students. However, additional protections apply for students served or deemed eligible for special education or Section 504 services. Under  if the district had knowledge (refer to WAC to define basis of knowledge) that a student was eligible for special education services prior to assigning discipline, the student must be provided special education discipline protections.

Provisions of Special Education Services can be found in . Discipline Procedures can be found in WAC 392-172A-05140 through WAC 392-172A-05175. 

Special Education Protections

Students with 504 Plans

Guidance and Resources

Under , board policies and procedures must outline each district’s guidance and scope of authority regarding student discipline. For local guidance refer to your school board policy on student discipline, often numbered 3241, and see the School Board Policies & Procedures section above for additional information. 

For guidance on additional special education and 504 protections, see Protections for Students with Disabilities section above.

Our guidance and technical documents will be posted to this webpage as they are updated.

District and School Resources

Resources

  • | U.S. Department of Education
  • | National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments (NCSSLE)
  • | Learning Policy Institute
Behavior Support & Restorative Practices Resources

Behavior Support

  • – A resource offered by 海角社区’s MTSS Components and Resources page to help schools identifying building-level and classroom-level intervention plans.
  • provides technical assistance to improve capacity for sustained positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS).
  • (U.S. Department of Education) - Guiding Principle 5: Ensure the fair administration of student discipline policies in ways that treat students with dignity and respect.
  • Behavior Menu of Best Practices and Strategies provides strategies for addressing behavioral needs to improve student academic outcomes and can be used to support K-12 students served by the state's Learning Assistance Program (LAP).

Restorative Practices

Parent/Guardian and Student Guidance 

Resources and guidance for parents/guardians regarding student behavior and school discipline.

 - If unresolved policy issues are still impacting your child, consider seeking help to ensure their needs are addressed.

  •  - a guide to answering questions about student discipline.
     | 
Student Behavior and Discipline Research

Choose from peer-reviewed articles, resources, and studies detailing best practices for student behavior and discipline. 

  • – American Psychological Association (APA)
  • - Journal of Adolescent Health, Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine (SAHM)
  • Washington Appleseed & Team Child.
  • - CDC Youth Risk Behavior Survey, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)
  • – Learning Policy Institute
  • Fact Sheet:
  • - University of Pennsylvania
  • – National Education Association (NEA)

Discipline Data Requirements

Washington school districts are required to collect student-level discipline data for state and federal reporting purposes. 海角社区 is also required to make disaggregated discipline data publicly available. 

Discipline Data Reporting

School districts should regularly review discipline data to identify patterns and levels of disproportionality in discipline policy. School and district teams should integrate the use of data across multiple domains to guide equitable data-based decision-making regarding root cause analysis, student interventions, professional learning opportunities, and practices, policies and systems change.

Reporting

- State out-of-school exclusionary discipline data available by district, school, grade-level, student demographics and characteristics, and by school year.

CEDARS Manual and Reporting Guidance 

  • File R – Student Exclusionary Discipline
  • Appendix B – State Behavior Codes

Discipline Data Tips – 海角社区 Student Information

Student Discipline and Behavior Data Review

Washington discipline laws require school districts to review disaggregated discipline data. It should be reviewed by student demographics and characteristics, behavior and exclusion categories, length of exclusions, etc. This should be done when developing and periodically reviewing the district’s discipline policies and procedures. It must include the participation of school personnel, students, parents, families, and the community in order to:

  • Monitor the impact of the district’s discipline policies, procedures, and practices.
  • Update the district’s discipline policies and procedures to improve fairness and equity in the administration of discipline.

: Classroom discipline—Policies—Classroom placement of student offenders—Data on disciplinary actions.

: Discipline task force—Development of standard definitions—Development of data collection standards—Membership—Statewide student data system revision.

: Collection and submittal of student—level data—Student data—related reports—Disaggregation of data by subgroups—Modification of statewide student data systems.

: "Student absence from school"—Rules—Collection of attendance and discipline data.

: Discipline policies, procedures, and rules—Dissemination of information—Use of disaggregated data—Review

: Discipline policies and procedures—Development and review

: Access to course offerings—Student discipline and corrective action.

Federal Discipline Data Requirements

Under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), for school districts receiving Title I, Part A funds, the district’s plan must include how the district “will support efforts to reduce the overuse of discipline practices that remove students from the classroom, which may include identifying and supporting schools with high rates of discipline, disaggregated by subgroups of students” in accordance with Sec. 1112(b)(11).

Resources

- National Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) Technical Assistance Center

- National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments

and - U.S. Department of Education

Equity in Student Discipline

While overall rates of exclusionary discipline have declined over the last decade, significant disparities between disaggregated student groups persist. These trends warrant serious attention from school districts, as well as 海角社区, to work toward equitable opportunities and outcomes for each and every student. 

Washington civil rights laws require school districts to review disaggregated discipline data, including by race/ethnicity, to identify and address discrimination against students in protected classes identified in chapters??and??RCW. While the process districts adopt for using disaggregated discipline data under state discipline laws may also include reviewing data to prevent and address discrimination, districts must ensure they review disaggregated discipline data in accordance with ?at least annually.  

For information regarding civil rights laws and discipline, refer to?Preventing and Addressing Discrimination in Student Discipline?and contact 海角社区’s?Office of Equity and Civil Rights. 

Data Dashboard Review Tools
Resources and References
Root Cause Analysis

The following are guides and tools to help district staff understand the root causes of why discipline is applied differently in their schools. 

  •  an educator's action planning guide and resources (National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments).
  •  digging into the data, getting at the roots of disparities, and creating an action plan.
  •  a guide for what data you have and where to find it.
  •  a flow chart to consider all potential sources of data prior to beginning the root cause analysis.
  • a tool to help school administrators analyze school discipline data.
  •  a guide for data collection and root cause analysis work.
  •  a template for developing a summary of your data collection questions
  •  a helpful visual to process and communicate root causes of school discipline and plan moving forward.