§7943 — Title 20 Education | U.S. Code

§7943 Definitions

Title 20 › Chapter CHAPTER 70— - STRENGTHENING AND IMPROVEMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER VIII— - GENERAL PROVISIONS › Part Part F— - Uniform Provisions › Subpart subpart 3— - teacher liability protection › § 7943

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Defines key words used in this part. "Economic loss" means money losses, like lost pay, medical bills, replacement services, costs after a death, and lost business or job chances, but only if state law allows getting that money. "Harm" means any kind of loss — physical, nonphysical, money, or other. "Noneconomic loss" means non-money harms such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, disability, disfigurement, loss of enjoyment of life, loss of companionship (not loss of household services), harm to reputation, and similar losses. "School" means a public or private K–12 school or a homeschool. "State" means any U.S. state, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories, or their political parts. "Teacher" means teachers, principals, other school staff, any school employee who keeps order or safety (on the job or in an emergency), and an individual school board member.

Title 20, §7943

Education — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

For purposes of this subpart:

(1)The term “economic loss” means any pecuniary loss resulting from harm (including the loss of earnings or other benefits related to employment, medical expense loss, replacement services loss, loss due to death, burial costs, and loss of business or employment opportunities) to the extent recovery for such loss is allowed under applicable State law.

(2)The term “harm” includes physical, nonphysical, economic, and noneconomic losses.

(3)The term “noneconomic loss” means loss for physical or emotional pain, suffering, inconvenience, physical impairment, mental anguish, disfigurement, loss of enjoyment of life, loss of society or companionship, loss of consortium (other than loss of domestic service), hedonic damages, injury to reputation, or any other nonpecuniary loss of any kind or nature.

(4)The term “school” means a public or private kindergarten, a public or private elementary school or secondary school, or a home school.

(5)The term “State” means each of the several States of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, any other territory or possession of the United States, or any political subdivision of any such State, territory, or possession.

(6)The term “teacher” means—

(A)a teacher, instructor, principal, or administrator;

(B)another educational professional who works in a school;

(C)a professional or nonprofessional employee who—

(i)works in a school; and

(ii)(I)in the employee’s job, maintains discipline or ensures safety; or

(II)in an emergency, is called on to maintain discipline or ensure safety; or

(D)an individual member of a school board (as distinct from the board).

Editorial Notes

Codification Section was classified to section 6733 of this title prior to renumbering by Pub. L. 114–95.

§7943 Definitions

Summary

Title 20, §7943

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

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