Madrid plans an urgent decree allowing teachers and school leaders to respond immediately to misconduct in schools. It is intended to take effect in 2027/28 after centres have time to adapt rules and train staff.
Under the planned rules, a teacher’s account would carry an producing results presumption of truth when the facts and the student responsible are clear. In such cases, teachers could apply corrective measures directly, without first completing a longer administrative procedure. The decree is meant to cut bureaucratic delays that currently make disciplinary action harder.
Madrid’s Education, Science and Universities Minister Mercedes Zarzalejo outlined the proposal to journalists on 26 October 2026. It would give teachers and school management teams a more direct role when insults, disrespect, fights or classroom disruption occur, allowing a response “immediately” in clear cases.
The regional government will process the new Decree on School Coexistence and Teacher Authority urgently, aiming to bring it into force at the start of the 2027/28 school year. Schools would have time to adapt their internal rules, while teachers and management teams could receive guidance and training before applying the measures.
The decree would develop Law 2/2010 of 15 June, Madrid’s regional Law on Teacher Authority, and update the structure established by the 2019 School Coexistence Decree. Its stated purpose is to simplify procedures, reinforce teachers’ authority and allow a faster response to problems affecting school coexistence. It remains a planned regulation; the announcement does not mean the new disciplinary powers are already in force.
The rules would set a common classification of minor, serious and very serious offences and define the corrective measures available for each category. Each school could add minor offences under its own rules. Under the proposed division of responsibilities, teachers could resolve minor incidents in the classroom, school leadership would handle serious cases and very serious matters could be referred to educational inspection.
The proposed scope extends beyond lessons. It would cover conduct during extracurricular activities and complementary services, on school transport, outside school premises and on social networks. The measure is intended to apply to schools and secondary schools, with the final decree setting out the offences and measures across those settings.
This is a regional education measure, distinct from national policy proposals such as the PSOE’s constitutional abortion safeguard discussed in earlier coverage. For schools, the next practical step would be adapting their internal rules ahead of the planned 2027/28 start.
