Protecting our Students in Schools Act of 2025

Protecting our Students in Schools Act of 2025 would ban corporal punishment in any program that receives federal financial assistance. The bill aims to replace corporal punishment with positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS) and related approaches (like restorative justice, trauma-informed care, implicit bias training, and culturally responsive teaching) to improve school climate and reduce exclusionary discipline. It creates a comprehensive framework: prohibit corporal punishment, empower individuals to sue for damages, authorize federal enforcement through the Office for Civil Rights, require state plans and grants to promote PBIS, demand regular reporting and data analysis, and ensure parents are notified. The act also sets out a process for implementing regulations and clarifies how it applies to different types of schools and programs, including certain DoD and Interior schools, while leaving private and home schools largely outside its reach. In sum, the bill seeks to end corporal punishment in federally funded schools and to fund and mandate a nationwide shift toward evidence-based behavioral supports, with robust oversight, data collection, and enforcement to guarantee compliance and accountability.