Russia's new bill targets disruptive teens with Soviet-style reform schools

Principals may soon have the power to remove violent students—but parents can fight back in court. Will this fix Russia's school discipline crisis?

, and Administrator

2026 May 6 . 11:07 PM

1 min read

The image shows a black and white photo of a group of children posing for a picture in front of a... — The image shows a black and white photo of a group of children posing for a picture in front of a backdrop of trees. At the bottom of the image, there is some text which reads "1930-1940 Russian School".

Russia's new bill targets disruptive teens with Soviet-style reform schools

A new bill in Russia could change how schools handle disruptive students aged 11 to 18. Currently, principals have few options for dealing with serious misbehaviour, even when pupils harm others. The proposed law would allow offenders to be sent to specialised educational institutions instead of staying in regular classes. Under existing rules, teenagers who cannot be prosecuted for crimes remain in their usual schools. One recent case involved a student who broke a classmate’s ribs—yet the school could not expel him because his parents refused a transfer. This gap in discipline has left principals with limited ways to respond.

The bill suggests reviving a Soviet-era system of reform schools, but with a modern approach. These institutions would be open-type facilities, set up in every region using available buildings. Veterans from the special military operation could work there after completing training. Parents who oppose the decision would have two choices: switch their child to homeschooling or challenge the disciplinary action in court. Alexey Savvateyev, a mathematician and founder of the *Rodnaya Shkola* movement, has argued for reforming these schools. He believes the current system fails to address deviant behaviour effectively.

If passed, the law would give schools more authority to manage serious misconduct. Students causing harm could be moved to specialised institutions rather than staying in mainstream education. The change aims to provide clearer consequences while offering parents legal recourse if they disagree.