North Carolina HB 983: Prohibit Corporal Punishment in Schools.

Bill Text

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
H 1
HOUSE BILL 983

Short Title: Prohibit Corporal Punishment in Schools. (Public)
Sponsors: Representatives Cervania and Morey (Primary Sponsors).
For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
Referred to: Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
April 14, 2025
*H983-v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO PROHIBIT CORPORAL PUNISHMENT IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 2
Whereas, "corporal punishment" is defined in statute as "the intentional infliction of 3
physical pain upon the body of a student as a disciplinary measure"; and 4
Whereas, more than 80 research studies confirm that corporal punishment is not 5
associated with improvement in academic outcomes, but is associated with impeding students' 6
psychological and emotional development; and 7
Whereas, 31 states have enacted statutory bans on corporal punishment in public 8
schools; and 9
Whereas, none of this State's 115 local school administrative units currently allow the 10
use of corporal punishment; and 11
Whereas, the State Board of Education, the North Carolina Parent Teacher 12
Association, and virtually all professional and advocacy organizations related to children 13
recommend the prohibition of corporal punishment in public schools; Now, therefore, 14
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 15
SECTION 1. G.S. 115C-390.4 reads as rewritten: 16
"§ 115C-390.4. Corporal punishment.punishment prohibited. 17
(a) Each governing body of a public school unit shall determine whether corporal 18
punishment will be permitted in its public school unit. Notwithstanding a governing body's 19
prohibition on the use of corporal punishment, school personnel may use Corporal punishment 20
is prohibited. Use of physical restraint in accordance with federal law and G.S. 115C-391.1 and 21
reasonable use of force pursuant to G.S. 115C-390.3.G.S. 115C-390.3 shall not be considered 22
corporal punishment. 23
(b) To the extent that corporal punishment is permitted, the policies adopted for the 24
administration of corporal punishment shall include at a minimum the following: 25
(1) Corporal punishment shall not be administered in a classroom with other 26
students present. 27
(2) Only a teacher, principal, or assistant principal may administer corporal 28
punishment and may do so only in the presence of a principal, assistant 29
principal, or teacher who shall be informed beforehand and in the student's 30
presence of the reason for the punishment. 31
(3) A school person shall provide the student's parent with notification that 32
corporal punishment has been administered, and the person who administered 33
the corporal punishment shall provide the student's parent a written 34
explanation of the reasons and the name of the second person who was present. 35

General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 House Bill 983-First Edition
(4) The school shall maintain records of each administration of corporal 1
punishment and the reasons for its administration. 2
(5) In no event shall excessive force be used in the administration of corporal 3
punishment. Excessive force includes force that results in injury to the child 4
that requires medical attention beyond simple first aid. 5
(6) Corporal punishment shall not be administered on a student whose parent or 6
guardian has stated in writing that corporal punishment shall not be 7
administered to that student. Parents and guardians shall be given a form to 8
make such an election at the beginning of the school year or when the student 9
first enters the school during the year. The form shall advise the parent or 10
guardian that the student may be subject to suspension, among other possible 11
punishments, for offenses that would otherwise not require suspension if 12
corporal punishment were available. If the parent or guardian does not return 13
the form, corporal punishment may be administered on the student. 14
(c) Each governing body of a public school unit shall report annually to the State Board 15
of Education, in a manner prescribed by the State Board of Education, on the number of times 16
that corporal punishment was administered. The report shall be in compliance with the federal 17
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, 20 U.S.C. § 1232g, and shall include the following: 18
(1) The number of students who received corporal punishment. 19
(2) The number of students who received corporal punishment who were also 20
students with disabilities and were eligible to receive special education and 21
related services under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 22
20 U.S.C. § 1400, et seq. 23
(3) The grade level of the students who received corporal punishment. 24
(4) The race, gender, and ethnicity of the students who received corporal 25
punishment. 26
(5) The reason for the administration of the corporal punishment for each student 27
who received corporal punishment." 28
SECTION 2. G.S. 115C-12(