Category: Legislation
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Time to End Seclusion in Connecticut Schools
Hearst Media has recently covered the issue of restraint and seclusion in Connecticut schools. Now legislation is being introduced in Connecticut that would prohibit the of seclusion of special education students and would update the rules around the use of restraint. Representative Theresa Wood and Representative Tiffany Bluemle introduced Bill 1200. The bill is set to have a…
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Support for House Bill 1479 in Washington State
Over the last several months, I have worked with many parents, educators, and advocates across Washington State who have committed to reducing and eliminating restraint and isolation. The bill before you is a strong piece of legislation that resulted from the collaboration of a diverse group of stakeholders. This bill is a step forward to…
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The Reality of Isolation Rooms in New Jersey’s Public Schools, and Efforts to Ban the Practice
In the state of New Jersey, the issue of seclusion and restraint, specifically the topic of quiet rooms, are the subject of recent media attention. Isolation rooms, otherwise known as quiet rooms, are padded rooms where children are placed for disruptive behavior. Isolation rooms are known to have traumatic effects on students, and they are…
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It’s time to ban seclusion in New Jersey schools
Seclusion is the involuntary confinement of a student alone in a room or area from which the student is physically prevented from leaving. In June, an investigation by the NJ Advance Media led to the publication of an article, “Inside the quiet rooms.” The article stated that at least 1,150 New Jersey students had been…
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Maryland State Education Association suggest that definitions in a new law are riddled with exceptions, making application difficult
The Maryland State Education Association (MSEA) posted an article on their website on October 6th regarding a new law in Maryland (HB1255) which aims to reduce and eliminate restraint and seclusion in Maryland schools. In the article, the unspecified author states, “The definitions in the law are riddled with exceptions, making application difficult.” The article…
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“There is no place in Maryland’s schools for the use of seclusion”
On Wednesday, March 2nd, 2022 there was a hearing in the Maryland Senate for SB 705, which would prohibit seclusion in all public schools in Maryland and significantly reduce the use of seclusion in nonpublic schools. I attended and provided testimony in support of the bill and was joined by several others including our State Superintendent Mohammad Choudhary.
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Action Alert: Tell the Maryland Senate to ban seclusion in all public schools
Great news – we have proposed legislation in the Maryland Senate that would ban seclusion in all public schools across the state and limit the use of seclusion in nonpublic schools (SB 0705). The legislation would also expand reporting requirements and require the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) to develop an accountability system. This…
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Time for change in Maryland: Legislation to reduce and eliminate restraint and seclusion
It’s time to ban seclusion in all public schools in Maryland (and everywhere) and have a higher level of accountability and oversight. While Maryland currently has some of the better laws in the nation, they are not enough. More must be done to protect the civil and human rights of children in Maryland schools. There…
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Abused and unable to tell your parents
Imagine being unable to talk for a single day. Unable to express your needs. You can’t write or text. Stop reading this and take 30 seconds to truly grasp how difficult and stressful it would be to go through a single day without any traditional means of communication.
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Congressional Briefing: The Keeping All Students Safe Act
The Alliance Against Seclusion and Restraint is proud to be a part of the Alliance to Prevent Restraint and Seclusion in Schools (APRAIS) coalition. APRAIS is a coalition of organizations and advocates who dedicate their time and resources to ending restraint and seclusion abuse in U.S. schools. As a member of the coalition we wanted to…