Outline of the state of Missouri
State
Missouri
Permitted

Category
Corporal Punishment

Category
Corporal Punishment

State law permits the use of corporal punishment for disciplinary purposes.

Missouri Revised Statutes 160.261 Discipline written policy established by local boards of education

1.  The local board of education of each school district shall clearly establish a written policy of discipline, including the district’s determination on the use of corporal punishment and the procedures in which punishment will be applied. A written copy of the district’s discipline policy and corporal punishment procedures, if applicable, shall be provided to the pupil and parent or legal guardian of every pupil enrolled in the district at the beginning of each school year and also made available in the office of the superintendent of such district, during normal business hours, for public inspection. All employees of the district shall annually receive instruction related to the specific contents of the policy of discipline and any interpretations necessary to implement the provisions of the policy in the course of their duties, including but not limited to approved methods of dealing with acts of school violence, disciplining students with disabilities and instruction in the necessity and requirements for confidentiality.

2.  The policy shall require school administrators to report acts of school violence to all teachers at the attendance center and, in addition, to other school district employees with a need to know. For the purposes of this chapter or chapter 167, “need to know” is defined as school personnel who are directly responsible for the student’s education or who otherwise interact with the student on a professional basis while acting within the scope of their assigned duties. As used in this section, the phrase “act of school violence” or “violent behavior” means the exertion of physical force by a student with the intent to do serious physical injury as defined in section 556.061 to another person while on school property, including a school bus in service on behalf of the district, or while involved in school activities. The policy shall at a minimum require school administrators to report, as soon as reasonably practical, to the appropriate law enforcement agency any of the following crimes, or any act which if committed by an adult would be one of the following crimes:

  • (1)  First degree murder under section 565.020;

  • (2)  Second degree murder under section 565.021;

  • (3)  Kidnapping under section 565.110 as it existed prior to January 1, 2017, or kidnapping in the first degree under section 565.110;

  • (4)  First degree assault under section 565.050;

  • (5)  Rape in the first degree under section 566.030;

  • (6)  Sodomy in the first degree under section 566.060;

  • (7)  Burglary in the first degree under section 569.160;

  • (8)  Burglary in the second degree under section 569.170;

  • (9)  Robbery in the first degree under section 569.020 as it existed prior to January 1, 2017, or robbery in the first degree under section 570.023;

  • (10)  Distribution of drugs under section 195.211 as it existed prior to January 1, 2017, or manufacture of a controlled substance under section 579.055;

  • (11)  Distribution of drugs to a minor under section 195.212 as it existed prior to January 1, 2017, or delivery of a controlled substance under section 579.020;

  • (12) Arson in the first degree under section 569.040;

  • (13) Voluntary manslaughter under section 565.023;

  • (14) Involuntary manslaughter under section 565.024 as it existed prior to January 1, 2017, involuntary manslaughter in the first degree under section 565.024, or involuntary manslaughter in the second degree under section 565.027;

  • (15) Second degree assault under section 565.060 as it existed prior to January 1, 2017, or second degree assault under section 565.052;

  • (16) Rape in the second degree under section 566.031;

  • (17) Felonious restraint under section 565.120 as it existed prior to January 1, 2017, or kidnapping in the second degree under section 565.120;

  • (18) Property damage in the first degree under section 569.100;

  • (19) The possession of a weapon under chapter 571;

  • (20) Child molestation in the first degree pursuant to section 566.067 as it existed prior to January 1, 2017, or child molestation in the first, second, or third degree pursuant to section 566.067, 566.068, or 566.069;

  • (21) Sodomy in the second degree pursuant to section 566.061;

  • (22) Sexual misconduct involving a child pursuant to section 566.083;

  • (23) Sexual abuse in the first degree pursuant to section 566.100;

  • (24) Harassment under section 565.090 as it existed prior to January 1, 2017, or harassment in the first degree under section 565.090; or

  • (25) Stalking under section 565.225 as it existed prior to January 1, 2017, or stalking in the first degree under section 565.225;

committed on school property, including but not limited to actions on any school bus in service on behalf of the district or while involved in school activities. The policy shall require that any portion of a student's individualized education program that is related to demonstrated or potentially violent behavior shall be provided to any teacher and other school district employees who are directly responsible for the student's education or who otherwise interact with the student on an educational basis while acting within the scope of their assigned duties. The policy shall also contain the consequences of failure to obey Standard of conduct set by the local board of education, and the importance of the Standard to the maintenance of an atmosphere where orderly learning is possible and encouraged.

Policy Type
Statute