Ky. regulations on restraint, seclusion
Jefferson County Public Schools underreported the number of times it restrained or secluded its students last year by thousands of incidents.
The discrepancy has brought the use of restraint and seclusion in schools to the forefront. Here is what is and what is not allowed in Kentucky:
Kentucky's regulation
Among other things, the regulation mandates that:
- Physical restraint or seclusion may only be used if a student’s behavior poses (an) imminent danger of physical harm to self or others.
- Parents must be notified of any incidents of restraint or seclusion, with reports sent to the state.
- Physical restraint may only be implemented by a core team of school personnel who are trained in restraint techniques, except in emergency situations.
- Prone restraints - where a child is held face-down on the ground - and mechanical restraints - which is the use of straps or other equipment to restrict a student's movement - are banned.
- All school personnel must be trained to use an array of positive behavior supports and interventions to increase appropriate student behavior.
Definitions
Seclusion: Involuntary confinement of a student alone in a room or area. This is different from a time-out or an in-school suspension.
Restraint: Holds that either immobilize or reduce the ability of a student to move his or her torso, arms, legs or head freely. It does not include temporary touching or holding a student's hand, arm or shoulder to encourage a student to move voluntarily to a safe location.
Mechanical restraint: Use of straps or other devices or equipment to restrict a student's movement.
Prone restraint: Student is restrained in a face-down position with physical pressure applied to the student's body to keep him or her in that position. Supine restraint is similar, but with the student lying in a face-up position. Kentucky regulations state that neither restraint is to be used in schools.
Parental rights
Parents are supposed to be notified when a restraint or a seclusion is used on their child within 24 hours. If a parent cannot be reached within those 24 hours, schools are supposed to send a notification through the mail.
Parents whose children have been restrained or secluded may, under Kentucky regulations, request a debriefing session with the school to go over what happened.
Reporter Allison Ross can be reached at 502-582-4241. Follow the Courier-Journal's education team at Facebook.com/SchooledCJ.