Laws regarding school discipline and punishment vary from state to state; from school district to school district; and between public schools, private schools, and charter schools. School discipline and punishment laws are generally located in a state’s statutes (often in the Education Code) and further defined in a specific school’s policies and procedures. Federal laws may also apply in particular school discipline contexts. And state and federal criminal laws may apply to certain student conduct that occurs on school property or at school-sponsored events.

Exclusionary discipline is any type of school discipline that removes or excludes a student from their usual educational setting. Two of the most common exclusionary discipline actions are suspension and expulsion.

Corporal punishment is the use of physical force—usually paddling or spanking—to punish a student for misbehavior. Corporal punishment against students is legal in approximately 19 states but is controversial and the subject of proposed state and federal legislation to limit or prohibit its use.

In New Hampshire, school discipline and punishment are governed by state statutes within the Education Code and by the policies and procedures of individual school districts. Exclusionary discipline, such as suspension and expulsion, is used to remove a student from their regular educational setting as a consequence of violating school rules or policies. The New Hampshire Department of Education provides regulations and guidelines for these disciplinary actions, ensuring due process rights for students are upheld. Corporal punishment, however, is not permitted in New Hampshire public schools. State law (RSA 193:13) prohibits the use of physical force as a form of punishment in public educational settings. Additionally, federal laws, such as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), provide specific protections and procedures for disciplining students with disabilities. Any student conduct that may constitute a criminal offense is subject to New Hampshire's criminal laws, regardless of whether the conduct occurs on school property or during school-sponsored events.