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NewsWLRN — South Florida NPR (Education)August 19, 2026Miami-Dade

Federal law lacks ban on corporal punishment in public schools as 15 states continue to permit the practice

There is no federal law prohibiting corporal punishment in public schools, leaving the decision to individual states and local districts. Currently, 15 states allow the practice, while 30 states and Washington, D.C., have enacted explicit bans.

educationschool disciplinecorporal punishmentchild welfarecivil rights
Read the full story at WLRN — South Florida NPR (Education)

Why It Matters

Students in 15 states remain subject to physical discipline in public schools, a practice that varies by local district policy and parental consent requirements.

Key Facts

  • There is no federal law banning corporal punishment in U.S. public schools.
  • 15 states currently allow the use of corporal punishment in schools.
  • 30 states and Washington, D.C., have passed laws explicitly banning corporal punishment in all public schools.
  • The U.S. Department of Education's 2021-2022 data shows nearly 32,000 reported instances of corporal punishment.
  • Reported instances equate to approximately 1 incident per 2,000 students.
  • Arkansas and Mississippi have some of the highest rates of corporal punishment in the country.
  • Almost all reported instances of public school corporal punishment occur in eight states, primarily in the South.
  • Federal data indicates boys are more likely than girls to receive corporal punishment.
  • Disproportionately high rates of corporal punishment are reported for white, Black, and Native American or Alaska Native boys.
  • A 2021 study found a correlation between a region's history of lynchings and the present-day use of corporal punishment in schools.

Who's Mentioned

organizationU.S. Department of Education“Source of Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) statistics.”personTessa Davis“Parent who shared personal experience with school corporal punishment.”organizationAmerican Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry“Professional organization defining corporal punishment.”organizationAmerican Psychological Association“Professional organization providing research on the effects of corporal punishme”personMorgan Craven“Policy expert with the Intercultural Development Research Association.”personJoan Durrant“Child developmental psychologist.”organizationIntercultural Development Research Association“Advocacy group promoting equal educational opportunities.”