Iowa Code

Iowa Code § 280.21 (2026)

Corporal punishment — burden of proof

✓ current as of July 2026

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1. An employee of a public school district, accredited nonpublic school, or area education agency shall not inflict, or cause to be inflicted, corporal punishment upon a student. For purposes of this section, “corporal punishment” means the intentional physical punishment of a student. An employee’s physical contact with the body of a student shall not be considered corporal punishment if it is reasonable and necessary under the circumstances and is not designed or intended to cause pain or if the employee uses reasonable force, as defined under section 704.1, for the protection of the employee, the student, or other students; to obtain the possession of a weapon or other dangerous object within a student’s control; or for the protection of property. The department of education shall adopt rules to implement this section.

2. A school employee who, in the reasonable course of the employee’s employment responsibilities, comes into physical contact with a student shall be granted immunity from any civil or criminal liability which might otherwise be incurred or imposed as a result of such physical contact, if the physical contact is reasonable under the circumstances and involves any of the following:

a. Encouraging, supporting, or disciplining the student.

b. Protecting the employee, the student, or other students.

c. Obtaining possession of a weapon or other dangerous object within a student’s control.

d. Protecting employee, student, or school property.

e. Quelling a disturbance or preventing an act threatening physical harm to any person. \n Tue Dec 09 22:17:53 2025 Iowa Code 2026, Chapter 280 (60, 7) §280.21, UNIFORM SCHOOL REQUIREMENTS 22\n\n f. Removing a disruptive student from class or any area of the school premises, or from school-sponsored activities off school premises.

g. Preventing a student from the self-infliction of harm.

h. Self-defense.

i. Any other legitimate educational activity. 3. To prevail in a civil action alleging a violation of this section the party bringing the action shall prove the violation by clear and convincing evidence. Any school employee determined in a civil action to have been wrongfully accused under this section shall be awarded reasonable monetary damages, in light of the circumstances involved, against the party bringing the action.

4. A school employee’s employer and the board of educational examiners shall not engage in reprisal or retaliation against a school employee who, in the reasonable course of the employee’s employment responsibilities, comes into physical contact with a student in accordance with this section.

5. A public school district or area education agency shall provide to all teachers employed by the public school district or area education agency a copy of this section with the initial employment contract and with each notice of renewal of the employment contract. 89 Acts, ch 71, §1; 90 Acts, ch 1218, §1; 94 Acts, ch 1131, §5; 98 Acts, ch 1195, §1; 2018 Acts, ch 1057, §10; 2020 Acts, ch 1108, §10, 11; 2023 Acts, ch 96, §9 Referred to in §232.71B, 232E.1, 256.9 \n

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 5 cases, 2008–2017 · leading case: Terry Christiansen v. Iowa Bd. of Educ. Examiners, 831 N.W.2d 179 (Iowa 2013).

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Terry Christiansen v. Iowa Bd. of Educ. Examiners, 831 N.W.2d 179 (Iowa 2013). · cites it 13× “Iowa Code § 280.21 (2) (emphasis added); see also Iowa Admin.”

K.G. ex rel. Gosch v. Sergeant Bluff-Luton Cmty. Sch. Dist., 244 F. Supp. 3d 904 (N.D. Iowa 2017). · cites it 6× “The battery claim The defendants argue that they are entitled to summary judgment on the Gosches’ “battery” claim, because Riediger is -immune to criminal liability, pursuant to Iowa Code § 280.21 (2), for reasonable action to protect,, an, employee, student, or other students.”

D.L. ex rel. D.L. v. Waukee Cmty. Sch. Dist., 578 F. Supp. 2d 1178 (S.D. Iowa 2008). · cites it 15× “Counts VI (Assault & Battery) and VII (False Imprisonment) Defendants contend that the state-law torts alleged in Counts VI and VII fail against all defendants, alleging that the state-law tort remedies are preempted by the ICRA’s remedies and, further, that the torts have been…”

K.R.S. v. Bedford Cmty. Sch. Dist., 109 F. Supp. 3d 1060 (S.D. Iowa 2015). · cites it 3× “Iowa Code § 280.21 (3). In § 280.26, a school employee “who intervenes in a fight or physical struggle .”

R.M. Ex Rel. R.M. v. Waukee Cmty. Sch. Dist., 589 F. Supp. 2d 1141 (S.D. Iowa 2008). · cites it 2× “2d 36 (Iowa 1993) and also whether Iowa Code § 280.21 has displaced assault and battery and false imprisonment in the educational context, given the conflicting statutory language and dearth of case law on point.”

— Iowa Code § 280.21(2) — 2 cases

Terry Christiansen v. Iowa Bd. of Educ. Examiners, 831 N.W.2d 179 (Iowa 2013). “Iowa Code § 280.21 (2) (emphasis added); see also Iowa Admin.”

D.L. ex rel. D.L. v. Waukee Cmty. Sch. Dist., 578 F. Supp. 2d 1178 (S.D. Iowa 2008). “Counts VI (Assault & Battery) and VII (False Imprisonment) Defendants contend that the state-law torts alleged in Counts VI and VII fail against all defendants, alleging that the state-law tort remedies are preempted by the ICRA’s remedies and, further, that the torts have been…”

— Iowa Code § 280.21(2)(e) — 1 case

Terry Christiansen v. Iowa Bd. of Educ. Examiners, 831 N.W.2d 179 (Iowa 2013). “Iowa Code § 280.21 (2) (emphasis added); see also Iowa Admin.”

— Iowa Code § 280.21(3) — 1 case

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