The Keeping All Students Safe Act (KASSA) has been reintroduced in the 119th Congress by a bipartisan group of lawmakers, including Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA-03), House Committee on Education and Workforce, Representative Don Beyer (D-VA-08), and Representative Abraham Hamadeh (R-AZ-08). And in the Senate, it is sponsored by Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT), Ranking Member Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, and Vice Chair Patty Murray (D-WA), Senate Appropriations Committee.
This bill aims to prohibit seclusion, mechanical restraint, and chemical restraint in federally funded schools and programs. The Alliance Against Seclusion and Restraint extends sincere gratitude to Senators Murphy, Murray, and Sanders, as well as Representatives Beyer, Scott, and Hamadeh, for their leadership in reintroducing this critical legislation. Their commitment reflects a shared dedication to protecting students from dangerous interventions.
A press release issued today (12/12/2025) states that the Keeping All Students Safe Act would make it illegal for any school receiving federal taxpayer money to seclude children and 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 the safety of students and staff. The bill would provide grants to train 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.
Every child should be safe and protected while in school. Sadly, that is not always the case. Despite evidence that seclusion and restraint practices make schools less safe, thousands of students are still subjected to these dangerous discipline methods. Students of color and students with disabilities are disproportionately impacted by these harmful practices said
— Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott
This 119th Congress version maintains core prohibitions while enhancing implementation through expanded grants for schoolwide behavioral supports, mental health services, and restorative justice. It strengthens data collection by providing unduplicated incident counts and disaggregation by disability status under Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Section 504. It clarifies applicability to Head Start programs and schools funded by the Interior or Defense departments.
The Alliance Against Seclusion and Restraint strongly supports KASSA as essential legislation to safeguard vulnerable students, particularly those with disabilities, from trauma-inducing practices.
“The reintroduction of the Keeping All Students Safe Act marks a pivotal moment in our fight to end harmful seclusion and restraint practices in schools nationwide. This bill would help to create safer schools for students, teachers, and staff by banning dangerous mechanical, chemical, and life-threatening restraints while prohibiting seclusion outright in federally funded schools. These protections are long overdue for our most vulnerable students, especially those with disabilities. Through mandatory training, data reporting, and support for evidence-based alternatives, it paves a practical path to safer, trauma-informed classrooms that every child deserves. The Alliance Against Seclusion and Restraint unequivocally endorses this legislation and urges Congress to pass it swiftly.”
— Guy Stephens, Founder and Executive Director, Alliance Against Seclusion and Restraint
Take Action!
You can advocate for the passage of this important legislation by contacting your federal representatives via phone or email.
- Identify your senators and representative using your zip code.
- Send a brief, personal email: State your support for KASSA, mention your experience, and request cosponsorship or swift passage.
- Call the congressional swicthboard at 202-224-3121 and ask for your reprsentative’s office: Keep it under 2 minutes; ask to speak with education staff.
- Share on social media with #KeepAllStudentsSafe #EndSeclusion, tagging your federal representatives.
Seclusion and restraint practices disproportionately harm children with disabilities, Black and Brown children, and those with trauma histories, inflicting serious physical injuries, emotional trauma, and even death while failing to address underlying needs. As Maya Angelou wisely said, “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” With our deepened understanding, it is time to ban seclusion, sharply reduce physical restraint, and embrace trauma-informed, neuroscience-aligned, neurodiversity-affirming, relationship-driven, and collaborative approaches that truly support students, teachers, staff, families, and communities .
