Behavioral Supports and Interventions in Schools

Effective August 2, 2023 section 19.5 of the Rules of the Board of Regents, and Commissioner’s Regulations Sections 100.2, 200.1, 200.7, 200.15, and 200.15 were revised (July 2023) to ensure student health and safety by prohibiting the use of corporal punishment, aversive interventions, prone restraint, and seclusion for all students; permit the limited use of timeout and restraint, and require schools to use behavioral supports and interventions (such as multi-tiered systems of supports and positive behavioral interventions and supports) and other research-based educational practices that are designed to meet students' social, emotional, and mental health needs, and improve school climate and safety. The revised regulations ensure behavior supports and interventions are used safely and with the highest standards of oversight, monitoring, and data collection.

Note: As of October 25, 2023, corporal punishment is prohibited in every school within the state of New York and is classified as child abuse (see Education Law §1125 and §305 below).

Guidance and Resources

• Behavioral Supports and Interventions in Schools FAQ (Updated April 2024, revised December 2024)
• Memo: Reporting Student Behavioral Interventions in 2024-25 (August 2024)
• Commissioner's Regulation - Section 19.5
• NYS Education Law §1125 defining corporal punishment as Child Abuse
• NYS Education Law §305 regarding the authority of the Commissioner of Education to regulate Corporal Punishment in all schools.

Contacts

• General questions regarding these regulations may be emailed to StudentSupportServices@nysed.gov.
• Questions specific to students with disabilities may be emailed to SPECED@nysed.gov.
• For questions regarding the reporting of data to NYSED’s Student Information Repository System, please contact your Level 1 Reporting Center or Big 5 point of contact.
• For all other data reporting inquiries, please contact the Office of Information and Reporting Services at Datasupport with the subject line “Student Behavioral Interventions.”
• Archived: Corporal Punishment Data Collection (CLOSED and replaced in 2024)