In this article the authors review general principles of negligence as they affect the practice of educators. They also discuss new challenges school face impacting civil liability, including: budget cut-backs; the increasing use of volunteers; school violence and harassment; and medical emergencies and conditions such as anaphylaxis and scent sensitivity. The article concludes with a discussion of some general considerations in the management of risks in schools, including a proactive plan of risk identification and assessment, along with weighting risks against their educational benefits.