As a result of the adoption of VA HB 1106 in April of 2014, in which the Virginia Commission on Youth made their recommendations to update Virginia’s restraint and seclusion policies, Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe signed VA HB 1443 and SB 782 into law on March 3, 2015, and the legislation goes into effect on July 1, 2015.
 
Parent complaints of mistreatment of students with disabilities that included being strapped to furniture in segregated rooms inspired broad support in both chambers.
 
The Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 22.1-279.1:1 as follows:
 
§22.1-279.1:1. The use of seclusion and restraint in public schools; Board of Education regulations.
 
The Board shall adopt regulations on the use of seclusion and restraint in public elementary and secondary schools in the Commonwealth that (i) are consistent with its Guidelines for the Development of Policies and Procedures for Managing Student Behavior in Emergency Situations and the Fifteen Principles contained in the U.S. Department of Education's Restraint and Seclusion: Resource Document; (ii) include definitions, criteria for use, restrictions for use, training requirements, notification requirements, reporting requirements, and follow-up requirements; and (iii) address distinctions, including distinctions in emotional and physical development, between (a) the general student population and the special education student population and (b) elementary school students and secondary school students.
 
CPI Training Can Help You Comply With the Rules
Schools throughout the US use our Nonviolent Crisis Intervention® training program because it focuses on prevention, de-escalation techniques, and other alternatives to restraint. Our training identifies underlying causes of student behaviors, and how staff and student behaviors affect each other. The program also includes evaluating risk of harm and signs of distress; documenting incidents; and safer, less restrictive physical interventions to be used only as a last resort.
 
How to Get Training
We can bring the Nonviolent Crisis Intervention® training program on-site to your school, or you can attend training in one of more than 150 public locations throughout the US.
 
More Resources
Get helpful hints for crisis intervention and learn about CPI training and restraint reduction.