New School Discipline Rules in Washington Take Effect July 11th

The Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) has finalized revised discipline rules that will take effect on July 11, 2025. The new permanent rules are replacing emergency rules that went into effect last August in response to challenges surrounding the interpretation of previously existing policies.   

OSPI began the permanent rulemaking process in October 2024 and filed proposed permanent rules in January 2025. Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal stated, “We are committed to monitoring the implementation of the updated rules closely and making adjustments as needed.” 

The new permanent rules revise Washington Administrative Code (WAC) Chapter 392-400. OSPI has developed a side-by-side comparison of the previous rules and finalized permanent rules, but also encourages review of the finalized permanent rules in their entirety to fully understand their content, meaning, and overall intent. 

“[T]he updated rules do not remove the requirement for educators to consider alternative disciplinary actions prior to classroom exclusion.” -Katie Hannig, a spokesperson for the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction

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