The Alliance to Prevent Restraint, Aversive Interventions, and Seclusion (APRAIS) coalition, which the Alliance Against Seclusion and Restraint is a member, has announced a congressional briefing for May 23rd at 10:00 am to discuss the Keeping All Students Safe Act (KASSA). The briefing will include a diverse panel whose lived experiences with seclusion and restraint will shed light on why Congress must take action and pass the Keeping All Students Safe Act (HR 3470/S.1750) to protect all children from trauma and harm and to ensure teachers and educators receive training in evidence-based practices known to keep all children and adults safe. Amy Hall, a Maine school district administrator, and a parent and student from Vermont who experienced restraint and seclusion will be panelists for the briefing. The bill is sponsored by Representative Don Byer (D-VA), Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-VA), Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT), Chair Patty Murray (D-WA), and Chairman Bernie Sanders (I-VT).

Background

The Keeping All Students Safe Act (KASSA) would make it illegal for any school receiving federal taxpayer money to seclude children. It would ban dangerous restraint practices that restrict children’s breathing, such as prone or supine restraint. The bill would also prohibit schools from physically restraining children, except when necessary to protect a student or staff from an imminent danger of serious physical injury. The bill would provide training for school personnel to address school-expected behavior with evidence-based, proactive strategies, require states to monitor the law’s implementation, and increase transparency and oversight to prevent future abuse of students.

There have been efforts to pass federal legislation to reduce and eliminate the use of restraint and seclusion dating back to 2009. In 2009, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report titled “Seclusions and Restraints: Selected Cases of Death and Abuse at Public and Private Schools and Treatment Centers.” It is well past time that we get federal law around the use of restraint and seclusion in schools nationwide. 

We can create safer schools for students, teachers, and staff while reducing and eliminating the use of restraint and seclusion. We can increase teacher satisfaction and reduce staff turnover while reducing and eliminating restraint and seclusion. Trauma-informed, neuroscience-aligned, relationship-driven, and collaborative approaches are the key to ending the outdated and traumatic practices that are leading to great harm. We can and must do better! Tell Congress it is time to pass the Keeping All Students Safe Act!

Attend the Briefing

The briefing is sponsored by the Alliance to Prevent Restraint, Aversive Interventions, and Seclusion in Schools (APRAIS) and the Education Task Force of the Consortium for Constituents with Disabilities (CCD).

We would love to see a good turnout for the event! We would love to see members of our community wearing AASR shirts.

Please RSVP by May 20th, 2024.