Disciplining Handicapped Students: Legal Issues in Light of Honig v. Doe

Abstract

Court decisions interpreting the effect of the Education for All Handicapped Children Act on traditional forms of public school discipline have raised many questions. This article reviews these decisions and confirms that most forms of minor disciplinary remedies remain available to educators so long as they are also used with nonhandicapped students. However, many legal problems arise with expulsion and long-term, or indefinite, suspensions of handicapped students, especially in light of the recent Supreme Court ruling regarding the expulsion of handicapped students.