Students attending public school are expected to adhere to certain conduct standards. Public schools often publish these expectations in a parent or student handbook. Superintendents often publish a document on student conduct, discipline and due process, which schools then adapt to meet the specific age and behavior requirements of their students. Generally, school fighting falls under the heading, "class two violation," or the like. These are violations that infringe upon the rights of other students and compromise school safety.
The board of education usually establishes a basic school district discipline matrix, which schools adapt to meet their individual needs. The discipline matrix is a document that uses superintendent conduct guidelines as a foundation. Students usually receive copies of the discipline matrix upon enrollment and, in some cases, must agree to abide by it before they are allowed to attend classes.
Though school fights do not always happen on school property, superintendents and schools reserve the right to adopt language that protects students attending district schools. If, for example, bullying and harassment occurs at school and then escalates into a fight that occurs off campus, it isn't uncommon for the offending student to be suspended or expelled anyway. Any actions taken by students who either disobey the school's discipline matrix or compromise school safety are considered threatening and might be subject to disciplinary action.
Public schools are run by state and local governments and therefore have a responsibility to uphold state and local laws with regard to child protection. If one child fights with another, they may both be responsible -- along with their parents -- for disobeying child protection laws. The children might face expulsion or suspension, and the parents could be required to report to the county court to explain the situation in front of a judge. The judge might issue the parents a ticket and require the students to complete community service or even be assigned to a juvenile detention center.