An array of federal, state, and local laws and policies come into play when situations arise that could compromise student safety. These laws and district policies combine to form an intricate and sometimes inconsistent patchwork of protocols that schools must follow. Robert Kim discusses the interplay between federal, state, and local laws governing schools' responses to student misbehavior; the differing regulations surrounding different kinds of behavior; and the legal gray areas and judgment calls school personnel face when making disciplinary decisions.