S. 5470: Protecting our Students in Schools Act of 2026

This bill would prohibit corporal punishment in schools that receive federal funding. In practical terms, that means schools would not be allowed to use physical punishment as a discipline method if they take federal money.

The bill would also give students and parents more ways to respond if corporal punishment is used. It would allow them to bring a lawsuit against a school or other covered entity, and it would create a process for federal complaints and enforcement so incidents can be reviewed and addressed at the national level.

In addition, schools would have to notify parents after an incident occurs. The bill would require schools to inform parents when corporal punishment has been used on their child.

On the data and prevention side, the bill would require states to report information related to discipline practices. It would also support grants for approaches intended to reduce the use of punishment-based discipline, including:

• Positive behavior supports
• Restorative practices
• Reduced exclusionary discipline such as suspensions or expulsions

Overall, the bill would set a national rule against corporal punishment in federally funded schools, create complaint and legal remedies, require parent notification, and provide federal support for alternative discipline strategies.

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