Discipline: State Laws on Corporal Punishment

By FindLaw Staff | Legally reviewed by Catherine Hodder, Esq. | Last reviewed March 18, 2025

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Corporal punishment in schools is banned in many states, reflecting a shift in discipline theories away from physical punishment. States that prohibit it hold teachers and administrators liable for assault and battery if they spank or paddle students. However, some states still allow corporal punishment, affecting thousands of students.

Many states have outlawed the use of corporal punishment in public schools. In the remaining states, thousands of students nationally are subjected to some form of corporal punishment.

Laws on this issue are subject to change, so it's essential to verify current regulations with legal research or by consulting an education attorney.

The following list indicates those states that have banned corporal punishment.

ALASKA: The state banned corporal punishment in 1989.

CALIFORNIA: The state banned corporal punishment in 1986.

CONNECTICUT: The state banned corporal punishment in 1989.

DELAWARE: The state banned corporal punishment in 2003.

HAWAII: The state banned corporal punishment in 1973.

ILLINOIS: The state banned corporal punishment in 1993.

IOWA: The state banned corporal punishment in 1989.

MAINE: The state banned corporal punishment in 1975.

MARYLAND: The state banned corporal punishment in 1993.

MASSACHUSETTS: The state banned corporal punishment in 1971.

MICHIGAN: The state banned corporal punishment in 1989.

MINNESOTA: The state banned corporal punishment in 1989.

MONTANA: The state banned corporal punishment in 1991.

NEBRASKA: The state banned corporal punishment in 1988.

NEVADA: The state banned corporal punishment in 1993.

NEW HAMPSHIRE: The state banned corporal punishment in 1983.

NEW JERSEY: The state banned corporal punishment in 1867.

NEW YORK: The state banned corporal punishment in 1985.

NORTH DAKOTA: The state banned corporal punishment in 1989.

OREGON: The state banned corporal punishment in 1989.

PENNSYLVANIA: The state banned corporal punishment in 2005.

RHODE ISLAND: The state banned corporal punishment in 1977.

SOUTH DAKOTA: The state banned corporal punishment in 1990.

VERMONT: The state banned corporal punishment in 1985.

VIRGINIA: The state banned corporal punishment in 1989.

WASHINGTON: The state banned corporal punishment in 1993.

WEST VIRGINIA: The state banned corporal punishment in 1994.

WISCONSIN: The state banned corporal punishment in 1988.

*Important Notice and Disclaimer: State laws on corporal punishment in school are constantly changing -- contact an attorney or conduct your own legal research to verify the state law(s) you are researching.

For information about school discipline, student codes of conduct, and bullying, see FindLaw's Student Conduct and Discipline section.

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