Resources

Coverage of DOJ Investigations:

ALASKA

• DOJ finds Anchorage School District used improper restraint and seclusion techniques on students (Alaska's News Source) (Feb. 2023) 
• U.S. Justice Department finds Anchorage School District illegally restrained and secluded students (Anchorage Daily News) (Feb. 2023) 

FLORIDA

• Justice Department secures settlement with Okaloosa School District to protect students (Niceville.com) (Jan. 2023) 
• U.S. settles with Florida school district to protect students with disabilities (United Press International) (Dec. 2022) 

INDIANA

• Justice Department Settles with School District (Inside Indiana Business) (Jan. 2021) 

IOWA

• Fewer students being restrained in Cedar Rapids schools (Jun. 2023)
• Cedar Rapids Schools gives update on DOJ settlement (KCRG 9 News) (Feb. 2023)
• Cedar Rapids schools coaching special education teachers under Justice Department settlement (The Gazette) (Feb. 2023)

MARYLAND

• Hogan will allow bill banning seclusion to become law | Seclusion and restraint in FCPS (Frederick News Post) (Apr. 2022)
• Maryland bans seclusion four months after US DOJ investigation into Frederick County Public Schools’ seclusion practices (Frederick News Post) (Apr. 2022)
• Trauma lingers for FCPS students who experienced repeated seclusion and restraint | Seclusion and restraint in FCPS (Frederick News Post) (Jan. 2022)

WASHINGTON

• Spokane schools' use of restraints, isolation, violated civil rights of special needs students (The Spokesman-Review) (Apr. 2023)
• U.S. Department of Justice announces settlement with SPS over isolation, restraint agaisnt students (KREM 2) (Apr. 2023)

National News Coverage:

• CT schoolchildren restrained, secluded tens of thousands of times (Times Union) (Nov. 2022)
• Controversial and often used, these little-known practices cause harm, even death, among U.S. schoolchildren (Times Union) (Oct. 2022)
• Restrictions on harmful school practices have stalled in Congress (Times Union) (Oct. 2022)
• With thousands of kids secluded & restrained, Congress again tries to ban practices (KOMO News) (March 2022)
• UPDATE: Justice Department finds FCPS violated federal law in restraining, secluding students with disabilities (Yahoo! News) (Dec. 2021)
• District No Longer Secludes Students with Disabilities (US News & World Report) (Dec. 2020)
• How Some Schools Restrain or Seclude Students (NPR) (June 2019)

Guidance Documents:

• Supporting Students with Disabilities and Avoiding the Discriminatory Use of Student Discipline under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973

Additional Resources:

• Department of Education Restraint and Seclusion Resource Document
• PBIS Center Guidance on Restraint and Seclusion
• NDRN White Paper "School is not supposed to hurt"