> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.sightlinebehavior.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Delete a student or observation

> Permanently delete a student or an observation, for example when a retention period ends.

Deleting can't be undone, and Sightline always asks first. To keep something but take it out of view, [archive it](https://docs.sightlinebehavior.com/students.md#archive-a-student) instead.

## Delete a student

Open the student and select More actions (⋯) → Delete Student. You can also right-click the student in the roster and select Delete student…, or use Delete permanently… in the Archived list.

The confirmation reads "Delete Sam Sample? This will permanently delete the student and all their data. This cannot be undone." Select Delete permanently.

This removes the student's observations and write-ups, case file, intervention phases, and the definitions and ABC tags saved for them.

## Delete an observation

On Starter, Pro, or a Pro trial, open the student's Sessions, select the checkbox beside each observation, and select Delete. Archived observations have a Delete button under Archived. The confirmation reads "Permanently delete this session? This will remove the observation data, narrative write-up, refinement history, and any audio recordings. If a session is cited in a report, those citations will break. This cannot be undone." Select Delete permanently.

On Community, open the observation's ⋯ menu and select Delete. The confirmation reads "Delete this observation? This permanently deletes the recorded data. Archive it instead if you only want to remove it from this list." Select Delete. Community can't delete a student, so the name stays in Sightline after their last observation is gone.

## Copies a deletion doesn't reach

Exported PDF, Word, Excel, CSV, and text files, shared observation files, backups saved to a file, and automatic backups made before the deletion keep their copies. Sightline's message after a student deletion says so: "Local snapshots and any exports still contain this data." Delete those copies under your district's retention rules. See [How Sightline handles student data](https://docs.sightlinebehavior.com/student-data.md).

## Related

* [Add and organize students](https://docs.sightlinebehavior.com/students.md)
* [Back up and restore your records](https://docs.sightlinebehavior.com/backup-and-restore.md)
* [For district IT](https://docs.sightlinebehavior.com/district-it.md)


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