Beijing School Discipline Rules ： Behaviors & Teacher Limits (2026)

Beijing's new discipline rules (trial) detail behaviors, measures, and ban physical punishment. Parents/students can appeal within 15 days. Effective Aug 7, 2026.

Tags:

• Beijing
• School Discipline Rules
• Student Misconduct
• Teacher Limits
• Appeal Rights

Source: OT-Team(G), 北京青年报

Beijing has introduced new school discipline rules, clarifying which student behaviors may result in disciplinary measures and setting limits on how teachers can respond.

The Beijing Municipal Education Commission on Aug. 7 released the Implementation Rules for Educational Disciplinary Measures in Primary and Secondary Schools in Beijing (Trial) (hereinafter referred to as the “Implementation Rules”), providing more detailed guidance on how schools and teachers may implement disciplinary measures while protecting students’ rights.

The Implementation Rules take into account the different stages of students’ physical and psychological development. They establish classified and graded disciplinary standards based on different educational levels and types of behavior, with separate measures for primary schools, junior high schools, and senior high schools.

The rules specify the concrete forms of misconduct and the corresponding levels of disciplinary measures. They also clarify the applicable situations and procedures for measures such as “removing students from the classroom” and “checking students’ belongings,” improve procedures and coordination mechanisms for handling major disciplinary cases, and detail the process and requirements for student appeals.

The rules further emphasize the role of school decision-making bodies in reviewing and approving major disciplinary decisions, aiming to provide clearer guidance for schools and teachers in carrying out educational discipline in a standardized manner, safeguard the rights and interests of all parties, and reduce conflicts and disputes.

According to the Implementation Rules, schools and teachers should stop and provide criticism and education to students who engage in any of the following behaviors. When necessary, educational disciplinary measures may be applied:

1. Deliberately failing to complete required learning tasks or refusing to comply with education and management;

2. Disrupting classroom order or the normal order of school education and teaching;

3. Smoking (including e-cigarettes), drinking alcohol, or violating student codes of conduct through inappropriate words or actions;

4. Engaging in dangerous behaviors that harm their own or others’ physical or mental health;

5. Hitting, verbally abusing classmates or teachers, or insulting, defaming, or personally attacking others online, thereby infringing upon others’ legitimate rights and interests;

6. Bullying classmates, causing physical injury, property loss, or psychological harm to others;

7. Other violations of school rules and regulations. 

Students involved in misconduct, serious misconduct, or criminal offenses shall be handled in accordance with relevant laws and regulations.

For students whose violations are relatively minor, teachers may implement the following measures immediately:

1. Public criticism by name; 

2. Requiring the student to apologize and make a verbal or written self-reflection; 

3. Appropriately assigning additional learning tasks or public service duties within the class; 

4. Requiring the student to stand in the classroom during a single class period; 

5. Providing guidance after class; 

6. Other appropriate measures stipulated in school rules, class rules, or class agreements. 

For students who violate school rules and regulations with more serious circumstances, or who refuse to correct their behavior after immediate disciplinary measures, schools may implement the following measures:

1. Conducting guidance and education by the person responsible for moral education work; 

2. Requiring students to undertake public service duties within the school; 

3. Providing specialized education on school rules, regulations, and behavioral standards; 

4. Suspending or restricting participation in outings, off-campus group activities, and other external activities; 

5. Other appropriate measures stipulated in school rules and regulations. 

The Implementation Rules also specify actions prohibited for teachers when carrying out educational disciplinary measures, including:

1. Using physical punishment such as hitting or pricking; 

2. Using disguised physical punishment, such as excessive standing, repeated copying, forcing students to perform uncomfortable actions, or deliberately isolating students; 

3. Insulting, discriminating against, or humiliating students, or violating students’ personal dignity; 

4. Punishing all students because of violations committed by an individual student or a small number of students; 

5. Implementing educational disciplinary measures based on academic performance; 

6. Applying disciplinary measures without grounds due to personal emotional preferences, or treating students in an obviously unfair manner; 

7. Assigning students to discipline other students; 

8. Other actions that infringe upon students’ rights. 

The rules also establish channels for students and parents to seek remedies if they disagree with disciplinary measures or punishments.

Students or parents who object to serious disciplinary measures or school disciplinary decisions made under the rules may file an appeal with the school within 15 working days after the decision is issued.

If they disagree with the school’s appeal handling decision, they may apply for a review by the district-level education administrative department within 15 working days from the date they receive the decision.

If they remain dissatisfied with the review decision, they may file an administrative reconsideration application or administrative lawsuit in accordance with the law.

The Implementation Rules further require schools to formulate school rules and regulations in accordance with the law. Schools must widely seek opinions from teachers, staff, students, parents, and experts, organize hearings when necessary, submit the rules for discussion by parent committees and teachers’ representative assemblies, and implement them only after approval by the school’s decision-making body.

School rules and regulations must also be filed with district-level education administrative departments. Any rules that have not been officially released may not be implemented.

• For the full Chinese version of the policy document, please visit:

https://www.beijing.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengcefagui/202608/t20260807_4812763.html