SF 2428: Discipline of Students who Cause Violent or Nonviolent Disruptions

SF 2428 is a new law passed by the Iowa Legislature in 2026. It became effective July 1, 2026. The law makes changes to Iowa Code section 279.65B relating to discipline of students. The law creates different steps for a teacher to remove a student from the classroom depending on their grade level and the type of behavior exhibited. Below is a quick-reference guide explaining the procedures for student removals due to non-violent and violent behaviors or threats.

Disorderly conduct, abusive or profane language, bullying, repeated disruptive behavior

Injury, property damage, or assault as defined by Iowa criminal code. Note: includes THREATS, not just actual behavior.

Non-Violent Behaviors

• Teacher MAY remove the student.

Violent Behaviors or Threats

• Teacher MUST remove the student.

Non-Violent Behaviors

• Removed for at least 30 minutes and until the teacher and principal (or designee) meet to discuss the student returning

Violent Behaviors or Threats

• Removed until after teacher and principal (or designee) meet to the student returning. No minimum time of removal

Removed at least until the next school day and until the teacher and principal (or designee) meet to discuss student returning regardless of if behavior was violent or not.

Non-Violent Behaviors

• No

Violent Behaviors or Threats

• If the teacher was assaulted and does not consent to the student being returned to their classroom, the student shall not be readmitted

When a student is removed from the classroom due to the above disciplinary steps, the student is placed under the supervision of the building principal, or someone the principal assigns to serve in that role.

If a student is removed from the classroom more than once for nonviolent behaviors, a meeting must be held to discuss next steps to better support the student. This meeting must include the teacher that removed the student, the principal, a guidance counselor, the student’s parent, and the student.

If a student is removed from the classroom two or more times in a semester, trimester, or quarter (whatever the school uses as grading periods), due to nonviolent or violent behaviors or threats, they must receive in-school-suspension, out-of-school suspension, or be placed in an alternative learning environment.

If a student’s violent behavior or threats included assault against the teacher, that teacher can refuse to allow the student back into their classroom. There is no time limit for how long a teacher can refuse to allow the student back into their classroom. The new law does not have a way for parents to appeal or challenge this removal. However, if a student has an Individualized Education Program (IEP), they may have additional rights that may limit this  type of removal. See below for more information about how this law applies to students with IEPs.

Assault is defined in Iowa Code section 708.1. It says that an assault may be any action that a person intends to cause pain or injury, or is intended to put make another person in fear that pain or injury may occur. This means that a person does not have to make physical contact with another person for an assault to occur. They just have to intend to do so or intend that their action makes another person fearful that they will be hurt by the action.

Removals from the classroom are not counted towards a student’s daily attendance. However, all removals still must be documented. Documentation must include when the removal occurred, why the student was removed, and what additional disciplinary action was taken.

A parent or guardian must be notified if their student has been removed from the classroom under this law. If the school takes additional disciplinary action, such as in-school or out-of-school suspension, they must provide a parent with written, and if possible, electronic notice of that action.

Schools must still comply with all federal laws, including the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (Section 504).

Iowa law does not override a student’s rights under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. Schools must ensure the following:

• That students are educated in the least restrictive environment appropriate to meet their needs.  Students that engage in nonviolent or violent behavior may not be automatically removed to a more restrictive environment. There are many other factors and supports to be considered before removal to a more restrictive environment.
• The Student’s IEP Team makes all decisions about a student’s placement, supports, and services. Parents and guardians are still equal members of the IEP team with a say in their student’s education.
• Parents and guardians must receive written prior notice regarding any proposed change in place that comes from a student’s nonviolent or violent behavior.
• Parents and guardians may use all dispute resolution options if the school’s application of SF 2428 denies a student a free, appropriate public education (FAPE).

School employees must still carry out all duties and responsibilities under the IDEA and Section 504. In addition, SF 2428 requires all teachers providing instruction to a student with an IEP or 504 plan to provide written notice that they have read the IEP or 504 plan and any changes that are made to it.

All of the above disciplinary procedures apply to students with IEPs. Additionally, when a student with an IEP is removed from the classroom for nonviolent or violent behavior, an IEP team meeting should be held as soon as possible. This meeting should include all members of the IEP team, the teacher who removed the student from the classroom, teachers providing instruction to the student, and any other school employees involved in the incident, such as bus drivers, lunchroom attendants, or custodians.

At least one paraprofessional or school employee who provides support to teachers in the classroom must attend IEP and 504 Plan meetings. These meetings must be scheduled at a time and place agreed to by both the parent or guardian and the school. Whenever possible, the meetings should take place during regular business hours.

At this meeting, the IEP team will discuss:

• The student’s current educational programing
• Whether changes need to be made to the IEP
•  Whether the student’s current placement or an alternative earning environment would best provide the student with free and appropriate public education.
• What accommodations, modifications, or adaptations are required so the student can be successful in school
• How the student being in general education affects them and other students in the classroom
• Any other relevant topics and information necessary to support the student’s needs

SF 2428 also requires an IEP meeting be held if a student has been removed from the classroom five times within fifteen consecutive school days.

SF 2428 does not provide a specific way for schools to document removals, just that they must be documented according to state and local policy. Federal law also does not provide a specific way to document these removals.  However, it is important that schools document these removals in some way to ensure that a student’s rights are not violated.

SF 2428 does require the school to provide written, and if possible, electronic notification to parents or guardians if their student was disciplined because they were removed from the classroom. However, SF 2428 does not require the school to document these disciplinary actions in the school’s records in any specific way.

The IDEA and Section 504 provide protections for students with disabilities to prevent frequent and unnecessary removals from the classroom. This is intended to balance a school’s need to maintain safety and success in the classroom, while also making sure a student isn’t removed just because they have a disability. This process is called Manifestation Determination Review (MDR). For more information about removals and MDRs, please see our Complaint Resolution Options and Manifestation Determination Reviews FAQ.

A student with disabilities can be removed from the classroom for disciplinary reasons in the same way a student without disabilities can. However, when a removal is longer than 10 school days, or removals over the school year add up to more than 10 school days, it may be considered a change in placement that triggers a student’s rights under the IDEA and Section 504. This is often called the 10-day rule.

 A removal may be counted towards the 10-day rule if there are changes in the student’s access to:

• General education curriculum
• IEP services and supports
• Nondisabled peers
• Extracurricular and non-academic activities

Please note that determining whether a student’s removal is counted towards the 10-day rule is very specific to the situation and there is no one-size-fits-all policy.

A removal may be a full school day or part of a school day. Both should be counted towards the 10-day rule. Parents and guardians should keep track of removals to make sure there is an accurate record of their student’s removals. See below for more information about how parents and guardians can keep their own records.

If a student with disabilities is removed from the classroom for more than 10 school days, this triggers their right to a Manifestation Determination Review, also called an MDR.

For more information about removals and MDRs, please see DRI’s MDR FAQ linked here.

SF 2428 may increase the number of times a student is removed from the classroom and the length of time they are removed. For students with IEPs or 504 Plans, the law provides additional protections to help prevent frequent and unnecessary removals. For those rights to be protected, schools must keep an accurate record of removals and follow the proper procedures when a removal occurs, such as conducting an MDR. However, it is also important for parents and guardians to keep track of their student’s removals to make sure they are being tracked accurately.

If a student has an IEP or 504 Plan, parents and guardians should learn about their student’s rights under these laws. For more information, please review the following resources.

If a student does not have an IEP or 504 Plan but is frequently removed from the classroom due to behaviors, that may be a sign that the student needs to be evaluated by the school district to determine whether they need an IEP or 504 Plan. To learn more about requesting an evaluation follow this link to Child Find.

Parents have the right to request their student’s educational record at any time. An educational record includes any document the school keeps or creates related to the student’s education. This includes IEPs, attendance reports, behavior plans, assessments and evaluations, disciplinary reports, and much more.

SF 2428 adds additional documentation requirements:

• If a principal denies a teacher’s request for an IEP meeting, the principal must provide the teacher with written notice that they are denying the meeting, and the reason for doing so.
• If a school employee is unable to attend the meeting, they should provide a written statement of their perspective. After the meeting, any school employee who could not attend must read the notes from the meeting and provide written notice that they have read the notes.
• As mentioned above, teachers must provide written notice that they have read a student’s IEP or 504 Plan, and any changes made to them.

These written notices should be kept as part of the student’s educational record and be available to parents and guardians upon request.

It is helpful for parents to document removals on their own to help determine whether removals should be counted towards the 10-day rule. Documentation should include:

• What time was the student removed
• Why they were removed
• Which teacher removed them
• Who supervised the student while they were removed
• What the student did while removed
• What time the student returned to the rest of their classes
• What time the student returned to the classroom of the teacher who removed them
• Any additional disciplinary action that occurred
• Any communication from the school, including phone calls, text messages, emails, in-person conversations, or messages in school apps
• Any other information the parent or guardian believes it important