Category: Legislation
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Louisiana’s HB 684 Fails to Protect Students From Harmful Restraint and Seclusion Practices
The Alliance Against Seclusion and Restraint (AASR) is deeply concerned about Louisiana’s proposed House Bill 684, which codifies the use of seclusion and physical restraint in schools for students with disabilities. While the bill includes incremental reforms, such as requiring cameras in special education classrooms, it lowers the threshold for mandatory IEP reviews, and it…
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Protect Minnesota’s Youngest Students from Seclusion in Schools
Minnesota made historic progress in 2023 by passing legislation that banned the use of seclusion for K-3 students. This legislation was a critical step in creating safer, more inclusive schools and ensuring that our youngest learners, especially students with disabilities, Black and brown students, and students with a trauma history, are treated with dignity and…
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Proposed Legislation in Maine Would Roll Back Protections for Children Related to Restraint and Seclusion in Schools
LD 1248 would amend the law by changing the standard from “imminent danger of serious physical injury” to “imminent danger of injury,” a much broader and more subjective criterion. The bill would also remove the requirement that a student must voluntarily comply when being escorted by staff, allowing for more involuntary physical interventions without classifying…
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Seclusion in Schools: A Harmful Practice Disguised as “Last Resort”
Recent statements by some educators and lawmakers in Colorado, as reported in Denver7, frame seclusion as a “last resort,” an “important tool,” and a “safe and caring option” to prevent physical restraint in schools. These characterizations are not only misleading but dangerously minimize the well-documented harms of seclusion. Despite claims and state laws that seclusion…
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Colorado Lawmaker Takes a Stand: Proposed Legislation to Ban Student Seclusion
In a significant move to protect students’ rights and well-being, Colorado lawmaker Reprentative Regina English has introduced House Bill 25-1178, aimed at banning the use of seclusion in schools across the state. If this crucial legislation were passed, Colorado would join a growing list of states that prohibit this controversial practice.
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Funding the Fight: AASR’s Urgent Need for Your Support
In the United States, thousands of children—particularly those with disabilities, Black and brown children, and boys—are subjected to harmful disciplinary practices in schools. Restraint, seclusion, suspension, expulsion, and corporal punishment are not only ineffective but also cause severe trauma, injury, and, in some cases, even death. The Alliance Against Seclusion and Restraint (AASR) is working…
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Wrong Way Wisconsin: We Should Not Use Deadly Force for Classroom Disruptions
On October 23rd, a bill (SB 542) was introduced in the Wisconsin Senate that is quite concerning. The bill was introduced by Senators Rachael Cabral-Guevara, Duey Stroebel, and Cory Tomczyk and cosponsored by Representatives Gustafson, Murphy, O’Connor, Schmidt, Brandtjen, and Moses. The bill has been referred to the Committee on Education. The purpose of the bill…
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Why Restraint and Seclusion Should Be Federally Regulated
Federal data indicates in the United States, upwards of 100,000 students are restrained and secluded (R&S) every year in public schools. The purpose of R&S is to manage disruptive behavior and is intended to be used in situations that involve imminent danger of serious physical harm to the individual or others.
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Persistence in Advocacy: Shattering the Culture of Silence
From the moment I joined Brookside Primary School in the Harwood Unified Union School District (HUUSD), I was deeply troubled by the distressing daily ritual of restraining and forcibly dragging students to the seclusion room. As an educator, I found the courage to express my concerns to the administrators, hoping for a resolution. Regrettably, those…
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National Education Association remains neutral on the Keeping All Students Safe Act
The National Education Association (NEA) has said they remain neutral on the Keeping All Students Safe Act. It is disappointing to see an organization whose vision is a great public school for every student standing on the sidelines while children suffer. Sadly today, there are many students who are not experiencing a great public school…