Corporal punishment in Florida: New law gives parents the choice
By Emma Heaton
Florida is changing its approach to corporal punishment in schools. Starting this year, parents must approve before school districts can administer corporal punishment.
According to the National Education Association, 17 states, including Florida, permit corporal punishment. The Florida Phoenix reported 516 instances of corporal punishment in the 2023-2024 school year, based on data from the Florida Department of Education.
A law signed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis requires parents to consent to corporal punishment at the start of the school year or before the sentence is administered.
Additionally, school boards must review their corporal punishment policies every three years.
A notable incident in Southwest Florida highlighted the need for this law. In 2021, a six-year-old was paddled at a Hendry County elementary school.
Currently, 19 public school districts in Florida allow corporal punishment. Glades and DeSoto County Schools permit it, while Lee, Hendry, Charlotte and Collier counties do not.
The new law went into effect on July 1.