West Virginia passed Policy 4373 – Expected Behavior in Safe and Supportive Schools, effective July 1, 2012. A core team of personnel in each school must be trained annually in the use of a nationally recognized restraint process. Training on use of restraint must include prevention and de-escalation techniques and provide alternatives to the use of restraint. Read More »

S.2020, Keeping All Students Safe, was introduced in Congress on December 16, 2011 by Senator Thomas Harkin (D-IA). Read More »

Ohio amended its Administrative Code for the Ohio Department of Mental Health Certification Standards to include Chapter 5122-26-16: Seclusion, Restraint, and Time-Out, effective January 1, 2012. This rule provides general requirements for use and reduction of seclusion and restraint. Read More »

Wyoming passed Chapter 42: Restraint and Seclusion in Schools, effective December 1, 2011. It requires public school staff training to prevent use of restraint and seclusion, development of incident review and debriefing strategies, and documentation of each restraint or seclusion incident. Read More »

The Alabama State Board of Education passed updates to its administrative code related to the use of physical restraint and seclusion in public schools on November 10, 2011, effective December 11, 2011. The guidelines prohibit the use of physical restraints that restrict airflow to the lungs and use of seclusion as defined in the code.  Read More »