Lawsuit challenges use of restraint, seclusion in California special education school

Four special education students and their parents or guardians filed a lawsuit last week against the state of California claiming they were emotionally and physically harmed when they were illegally put in restraint holds and secluded during behavioral interventions at their Concord school.

The four students attended Floyd I. Marchus School, operated by the Contra Costa County Office of Education. The public school offers special education services and integrated counseling to 85 children with emotional and behavioral disabilities. Students are referred to the school from districts in Contra Costa County and neighboring counties.

More >> Lawsuit challenges use of restraint, seclusion in California special education school

Policies guide use of restraint and seclusion

The bill would require the Virginia Department of Education to develop regulations consistent with 15 principles developed by the U.S. Department of Education; include definitions of terms, criteria for use, restrictions for use, requirements for training, notification, reporting and follow-up; and address distinctions, including distinctions in emotional and physical development, between the general student population and the special education student population, and elementary school students and secondary school students, according to the bill, the AP and other sources.

More: Policies guide use of restraint and seclusion

Even More: School officials weigh in on seclusion and restraint bill

State Report Shows Pressing Need to Understand Bad Behavior in Schools

Imagine walking into your young child's classroom and seeing him on the floor, his hands behind his back, as if he was being arrested. This is what happened to Lisbeth Ehrlich in Darien.

More >> State Report Shows Pressing Need to Understand Bad Behavior in Schools

Bill would strengthen law to avoid seclusion or restraint of special-ed students in schools

Rep. Gerry Pollet says a state law that prohibits special-ed students from being restrained or secluded unless others are in imminent physical danger needs to be strengthened. Parents who urged him to introduce a bill that will do just that will testify at a hearing Monday.

More >> Bill would strengthen law to avoid seclusion or restraint of special-ed students in schools

Schools Deal with Behavior Problems

Virginia schools are increasingly confronted with youth who exhibit challenging behavior.

And while schools sometimes use physical restraint and seclusion to de-escalate a crisis, the state does not have any explicit laws or regulations that govern their use.

More >> Schools Deal with Behavior Problems

As a child in orthopedic schools in the 1950s, I clearly remember other disabled children being tackled or held down by teachers.

Voices of disability: Ignorance not an excuse for physically restraining disabled students