14 DE Code § 701. (2021)
2021 Delaware Code|Title 14 - Education|Chapter 7. Lawful Authority of Teachers Over Pupils|§ 701. Authority of teachers and administrators to control the disruptive behavior of students.

§ 701. Authority of teachers and administrators to control the disruptive behavior of students. (a) As used in this chapter:  (1) “Department” means the Department of Education. (2) “Disruptive behavior” means conduct that is so unruly, disruptive, or abusive that it seriously interferes with a school teacher's or school administrator's ability to communicate with the students in a classroom, with a student's ability to learn, or with the operation of a school or a school-sponsored activity. (3) “Racial subgroup” means the racial and ethnic subgroups of students as defined under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, 20 U.S.C. § 6301 et seq., as amended, which includes African American or Black, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian American, Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, Hispanic or Latino, White or Caucasian, and Multi-Racial.  (4) “School” means a traditional public school, vocational technical school, or charter school. (5) “Subgroup” means as subgroup is defined under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, 20 U.S.C. § 6301 et seq., as amended, which includes racial subgroups, economically disadvantaged students, children with disabilities, and English learners. (b) While a student is entrusted in their care or supervision, public school teachers, and administrators have the same authority to control the behavior of the student and to discipline or punish the student as a parent, custodian, guardian, or other person similarly responsible for the care and supervision of the student except as provided in §§ 702 and 4112F of this title. The authority includes removing a student from a classroom or school-sponsored activity. (c) When a teacher removes a student from a classroom or school-sponsored activity in an effort to control the student's disruptive behavior, an on-site school administrator may, upon a written showing of good cause, override the teacher's decision to remove the student from the classroom or school-sponsored activity. Before overriding a teacher's decision, the administrator shall strongly presume that the teacher's decision to remove the student was reasonable and necessary under the circumstances. (d) When a student is removed from a classroom or school-sponsored activity or is disciplined or punished pursuant to this section, the principal or the principal's designee shall afford the student appropriate due process as required by the federal and State constitutions. (e) When a student is removed from a classroom or school-sponsored activity, the principal or the principal's designee and the removing teacher shall determine if and when a student may be readmitted to the classroom or school-sponsored activity. If the teacher and principal or principal's designee cannot agree, the superintendent or the superintendent's designee shall make the determination. (f) When a teacher or school administrator removes a student from a classroom or school-sponsored activity or disciplines or punishes a student, a rebuttable presumption exists that the teacher or administrator acted reasonably, in good faith, and in accordance with State or local board of education policy. The burden of overcoming the presumption shall be upon the student. (g) Each local board of education shall establish, adopt, publish, and distribute to students in the district and their parents or guardians policy or standards that are consistent with the regulations developed under § 122(b)(26) of this title and include all of the following:  (1) Specify the general circumstances under which a student may be removed from a classroom or school-sponsored activity, consistent with a teacher's and administrator's ultimate authority to determine disruptive behavior and to remove a student from a classroom or school-sponsored activity. (2) Provide an explanation or examples of “disruptive behavior” set forth in paragraph (a)(2) of this section. (h) A district shall not establish or adopt a policy or standards that prohibit the removal of a student from a classroom or school-sponsored activity. (i) No teacher who purports to have acted pursuant to the teacher's rights established by this chapter shall be found liable for civil damages arising from that action unless that teacher's conduct shocks the conscience. 14 Del. C. 1953, §  701;  57 Del. Laws, c. 383;  60 Del. Laws, c. 662, §  1;  72 Del. Laws, c. 236, §  1;  73 Del. Laws, c. 75, §  1;  74 Del. Laws, c. 17, §§  1-3;  75 Del. Laws, c. 158, §  1;  79 Del. Laws, c. 54, §  1;  81 Del. Laws, c. 324, § 1;