Tell the Washington state Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) to rescind the new school discipline rules and maintain protections for students.

What’s Happening?

Washington’s Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) is in the process of rulemaking for state regulations on how schools discipline students. Unlike state laws and policies, rules are written by state agencies like OSPI to define how laws are carried out in schools statewide. These new rules will determine how schools handle student behavior, when students can be removed from class, and what rights families have. So far, there have been limited opportunities for meaningful input in this process, but now is the chance for the public to weigh in. Share your voice and push for fairer, more supportive discipline policies.

Why We’re Concerned

If enacted, these rules would significantly undermine student protections and could lead to increased exclusion from classrooms, disproportionately affecting students of color, students with disabilities, students in foster care, students experiencing homelessness, and other vulnerable students. Below are some key concerns:

🚨 New “Classroom Exclusion” Discipline Could Remove Students Without Support

OSPI is introducing classroom exclusion, allowing teachers to remove students for “disrupting the educational process” without clear statewide guidelines. Students could be excluded for up to two days without guaranteed adult supervision.

🚨 Weak Statewide Guidance on When to Exclude Students

OSPI has not defined what counts as a “disruption,” leaving discipline decisions entirely to individual teachers with little statewide guidance. This could lead to inconsistent application of discipline rules and worsen existing disparities, particularly affecting students of color and students with disabilities. 

🚨 Weaker Parent Notification Requirements

Schools would no longer have to immediately notify parents when their child is excluded from class. Instead, each school could set its own rules, possibly leaving families in the dark.

🚨 Loosening of Rules Around Alternative Discipline & Expulsions

The new rules change how “nondiscretionary discipline” is defined, which could force schools to suspend or expel students for certain violations without considering context, intent, or alternative supports. OSPI also removed requirements for schools to try other discipline methods before resorting to harsher measures.

Other Ways to Get Involved:

📣Attend an In-Person Hearing - Go in person to voice your concerns. More information about these hearings here (March 12 - Federal Way, March 18 - Pasco, and March 19 - Spokane).

📞 Contact OSPI & State Leaders – Urge them to create clearer, fairer, and more supportive discipline policies.

 🗣️ Spread the Word – Share this information with parents, students, educators, and advocates!

 

CALL TO ACTION:

Use this form to tell OSPI to rescind the new school discipline rules and maintain protections for students of color, students with disabilities, students in foster care, students experiencing homelessness, and other vulnerable students.