§7946 — Title 20 Education | U.S. Code

Summary

Teachers are usually not personally responsible for harm caused while doing their school job, as long as they were doing their duties, followed federal, state, and local laws and school rules (for example when disciplining or keeping order), had any required license or permission, did not act intentionally criminally or with extreme carelessness or obvious disregard for safety, and the harm was not caused while using a vehicle that the state requires a driver’s license or insurance for. Some state rules are still allowed, such as requirements for school risk-management and teacher training, laws that make the school responsible like an employer, or rules that remove the limit when a government officer brings a case. Punitive (punishing) money awards against a teacher are barred unless the person suing proves by clear and convincing evidence that the teacher acted willfully, criminally, or with blatant indifference to safety. The protection does not apply if the teacher was convicted of a violent crime, terrorism, a sexual offense, a civil-rights violation, was under the influence of alcohol or drugs during the act, or when the misconduct happened during hiring or background checks. It also does not stop a school or government from suing a teacher, nor change state or local rules about corporal punishment.

Title 20, §7946

Education — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Except as provided in subsection (b), no teacher in a school shall be liable for harm caused by an act or omission of the teacher on behalf of the school if—

(1)the teacher was acting within the scope of the teacher’s employment or responsibilities to a school or governmental entity;

(2)the actions of the teacher were carried out in conformity with Federal, State, and local laws (including rules and regulations) in furtherance of efforts to control, discipline, expel, or suspend a student or maintain order or control in the classroom or school;

(3)if appropriate or required, the teacher was properly licensed, certified, or authorized by the appropriate authorities for the activities or practice involved in the State in which the harm occurred, where the activities were or practice was undertaken within the scope of the teacher’s responsibilities;

(4)the harm was not caused by willful or criminal misconduct, gross negligence, reckless misconduct, or a conscious, flagrant indifference to the rights or safety of the individual harmed by the teacher; and

(5)the harm was not caused by the teacher operating a motor vehicle, vessel, aircraft, or other vehicle for which the State requires the operator or the owner of the vehicle, craft, or vessel to—

(A)possess an operator’s license; or

(B)maintain insurance.

(b)If the laws of a State limit teacher liability subject to one or more of the following conditions, such conditions shall not be construed as inconsistent with this section:

(1)A State law that requires a school or governmental entity to adhere to risk management procedures, including mandatory training of teachers.

(2)A State law that makes the school or governmental entity liable for the acts or omissions of its teachers to the same extent as an employer is liable for the acts or omissions of its employees.

(3)A State law that makes a limitation of liability inapplicable if the civil action was brought by an officer of a State or local government pursuant to State or local law.

(c)(1)Punitive damages may not be awarded against a teacher in an action brought for harm based on the act or omission of a teacher acting within the scope of the teacher’s employment or responsibilities to a school or governmental entity unless the claimant establishes by clear and convincing evidence that the harm was proximately caused by an act or omission of such teacher that constitutes willful or criminal misconduct, or a conscious, flagrant indifference to the rights or safety of the individual harmed.

(2)Paragraph (1) does not create a cause of action for punitive damages and does not preempt or supersede any Federal or State law to the extent that such law would further limit the award of punitive damages.

(d)(1)The limitations on the liability of a teacher under this subpart shall not apply to any misconduct that—

(A)constitutes a crime of violence (as that term is defined in section 16 of title 18) or act of international terrorism (as that term is defined in section 2331 of title 18) for which the defendant has been convicted in any court;

(B)involves a sexual offense, as defined by applicable State law, for which the defendant has been convicted in any court;

(C)involves misconduct for which the defendant has been found to have violated a Federal or State civil rights law; or

(D)where the defendant was under the influence (as determined pursuant to applicable State law) of intoxicating alcohol or any drug at the time of the misconduct.

(2)The limitations on the liability of a teacher under this subpart shall not apply to misconduct during background investigations, or during other actions, involved in the hiring of a teacher.

(e)(1)Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect any civil action brought by any school or any governmental entity against any teacher of such school.

(2)Nothing in this subpart shall be construed to affect any State or local law (including a rule or regulation) or policy pertaining to the use of corporal punishment.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification Section was classified to section 6736 of this title prior to renumbering by Pub. L. 114–95.

Amendments

2015—Pub. L. 114–95, § 2001(a)(1), struck out undesignated par. following par. (2) which read as follows: “ate law that makes a limitation of liability inapplicable if the civil action was brought by an officer of a State or local government pursuant to State or local law.” Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 114–95, § 2001(a)(1), added par. (3).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 2015 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 114–95 effective Dec. 10, 2015, except with respect to certain noncompetitive programs and competitive programs, see section 5 of Pub. L. 114–95, set out as a note under section 6301 of this title.

§7946 Limitation on Liability for Teachers