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The Georgia State Board of Education last week enacted a broad policy on seclusion and restraints in the public schools of the state. The new state rules prohibit seclusion; the use of chemical restraints (like prescription psychotic drugs); mechanical restraints (like handcuffs); and prone restraints. The bill also regulates other restraints and requires parental notification when the restraints are used on a student. Here is a news article from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Federal legislation has been passed by the House of representatives, but the Senate has not yet acted. Georgia is one of the first to pass its own state law on the topic. Look for more state to act given the senate's reluctance to take up such an important issue in an election year.
New Jersey families who oppose the use of seclusion and restraint have their own website. Missouri has required local school districts to develop written policies on seclusion and restraint. What is happening with regard to the regulation and control of seclusion and restraints in your state?
As I had predicted on these pages, seclusion and restraints is the hot button issue of this decade in special education law. Stay tuned.
Federal legislation has been passed by the House of representatives, but the Senate has not yet acted. Georgia is one of the first to pass its own state law on the topic. Look for more state to act given the senate's reluctance to take up such an important issue in an election year.
New Jersey families who oppose the use of seclusion and restraint have their own website. Missouri has required local school districts to develop written policies on seclusion and restraint. What is happening with regard to the regulation and control of seclusion and restraints in your state?
As I had predicted on these pages, seclusion and restraints is the hot button issue of this decade in special education law. Stay tuned.
