Restraint and isolation are leftover practices that come from the days of institutionalization. They have no educational or therapeutic benefit and cause lifelong harm for students and for educators. These practices are used disproportionately against students with disabilities, students of color, students who are homeless or live in foster care, and students who are low-income.
Today, we have much a much better understanding of learning, and know there are more efficient and humane ways to support student behavior and trauma. This bill supports educators so they have professional development to support students before crisis occurs. It prohibits isolation use in PK-5. It also prohibits mechanical and chemical restraint. It funds school districts to eliminate isolation and reduce restraint, and provides resources for school boards and the state to build better professional development and monitor restraint and isolation use. When educators have the supports they need to support all students, we have safer classrooms, better teacher job satisfaction, fewer injuries for students and educators, and better student outcomes..
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