District staff shall enforce standards of appropriate student conduct in order to provide a safe and secure environment for students and staff on campus, but are prohibited from using seclusion and behavioral restraint to control student behavior except to the limited extent authorized by law.
(cf. 5131 - Conduct)
(cf. 5131.1 - Bus Conduct)
(cf. 6159.4 - Behavioral Interventions for Special Education Students)
Definitions
Behavioral restraint includes mechanical restraint or physical restraint used as an intervention when a student presents an immediate danger to self or to others. Behavioral restraint does not include postural restraints or devices used to improve a student's mobility and independent functioning rather than to restrict movement. (Education Code 49005.1)
Mechanical restraint means the use of a device or equipment to restrict a student's freedom of movement. Mechanical restraint does not include the use of devices as prescribed by an appropriate medical or related services professional, including, but not limited to, adaptive devices or mechanical supports used to achieve proper body position, balance, or alignment; vehicle safety restraints during the transport of a student; restraints for medical immobilization; or orthopedically prescribed devices which permit a student to participate in activities without risk of harm. Mechanical restraint also does not include the use of devices by peace officers or security personnel for detention or for public safety purposes. (Education Code 49005.1)
(cf. 3515.3 - District Police/Security Department)
Physical restraint means a personal restriction that immobilizes or reduces the ability of a student to move the torso, arms, legs, or head freely. Physical restraint does not include a physical escort in which a staff member temporarily touches or holds the student's hand, wrist, arm, shoulder, or back for the purpose of inducing a student who is acting out to walk to a safe location. Physical restraint also does not include the use of force by peace officers or security personnel for detention or for public safety purposes. (Education Code 49005.1)
Prone restraint means the application of a behavioral restraint on a student in a facedown position. (Education Code 49005.1)
Seclusion means the involuntary confinement of a student alone in a room or an area from which the student is physically prevented from leaving. Seclusion does not include a timeout involving the monitored separation of the student in an unlocked setting, which is implemented for the purpose of calming the student. (Education Code 49005.1)
Prohibitions
Seclusion and behavioral restraint of students shall not be used in any form as a means of coercion, discipline, convenience, or retaliation. (Education Code 49005.8)
(cf. 5144 - Discipline)
In addition, staff shall not take any of the following actions: (Education Code 49005.2, 49005.8)
1. Administer a drug that is not a standard treatment for a student's medical or psychiatric condition in order to control the student's behavior or restrict the student's freedom of movement
2. Use locked seclusion, unless it is in a facility otherwise licensed or permitted by state law to use as a locked room
3. Use a physical restraint technique that obstructs a student's respiratory airway or impairs a student's breathing or respiratory capacity, including a technique in which a staff member places pressure on the student's back or places his/her body weight against the student's torso or back
4. Use a behavioral restraint technique that restricts breathing, including, but not limited to, the use of a pillow, blanket, carpet, mat, or other item to cover a student's face
5. Place a student in a facedown position with the student's hands held or restrained behind the student's back
6. Use a behavioral restraint for longer than is necessary to contain the behavior that poses a clear and present danger of serious physical harm to the student or others
Limited Use of Seclusion or Restraint
Staff shall avoid the use of seclusion and behavioral restraint of students whenever possible. Seclusion or behavioral restraint may be used only to control student behavior that poses a clear and present danger of serious physical harm to the student or others, which cannot be prevented by a response that is less restrictive. (Education Code 49005.4, 49005.6, 49005.8)
(cf. 5131.4 - Student Disturbances)
(cf. 5131.7 - Weapons and Dangerous Instruments)
If a student is put in seclusion, the student shall be under constant, direct observation of a staff member. Such observation may be through a window or another barrier through which the staff member is able to make direct eye contact with the student, but shall not be made through indirect means such as a security camera or closed-circuit television. (Education Code 49005.8)
If a student is restrained, staff shall afford the student the least restrictive alternative and the maximum freedom of movement, and shall use the least number of restraint points, while ensuring the physical safety of the student and others. (Education Code 49005.8)
If a prone restraint technique is used on a student, a staff member shall observe the student for any signs of physical distress throughout the use of the restraint. Whenever possible, the staff member monitoring the student shall not be involved in restraining the student. (Education Code 49005.8)
Reports
The Superintendent/Principal or designee shall annually collect data on the number of times that seclusion, mechanical restraint, and physical restraint were used on students and the number of students subjected to such techniques. The data shall be disaggregated by race/ethnicity and gender, and reported for students with a Section 504 plan, students with an individualized education program, and all other students. This report shall be submitted to the California Department of Education no later than three months after the end of each school year, and shall be available as a public record pursuant to Government Code 6250-6270. (Education Code 49006)
(cf. 1340 - Access to District Records)
(cf. 3580 - District Records)
(cf. 6159 - Individualized Education Program)
(cf. 6164.6 - Identification and Education Under Section 504)
Legal Reference:
EDUCATION CODE
49001 Prohibition against corporal punishment
49005-49006.4 Seclusion and restraint
56520-56525 Behavioral interventions, students with disabilities, especially:
56521.1 Emergency interventions when behavior poses threat to student or others
56521.2 Prohibited interventions
GOVERNMENT CODE
6250-6270 California Public Records Act
UNITED STATES CODE, TITLE 20
1400-1482 Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
UNITED STATES CODE, TITLE 29
794 Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
Management Resources:
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION PUBLICATIONS
Restraint and Seclusion: Resource Document, May 2012
WEB SITES
California Department of Education: http://www.cde.ca.gov
U.S. Department of Education: http://www.ed.gov
Regulation WEST SIDE UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT
approved: February 7, 2019 Healdsburg, California