Video: Policy To Seclude Or Restrain Students Deemed Dangerous Available For Public Comment

[syndicaster id=’6277417′]

JACKSON, Miss. (PRESS RELEASE) – Mississippi’s first statewide policy on secluding or restraining students that are a danger to themselves or others is now available for public comment.

The Mississippi State Board of Education (SBE) voted Thursday to relaunch the public comment period on a policy for the use of seclusion and restraint in schools. In June 2015, the SBE approved a draft policy for public comment, and based on comments received, the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) worked with various stakeholders to revise the policy.

The MDE and the SBE support a positive approach to behavior that uses proactive strategies to create a safe school climate. When teachers and administrators implement evidence-based positive behavior supports appropriately, a safe and orderly school environment is created that is conducive to learning.

However, at times, some students exhibit behaviors that place themselves and others in imminent danger, and school districts must have clearly identified responses to address these situations when they occur.

State law allows school staff to intercede in situations wherein students are displaying physically violent behavior or are deemed to be a danger to themselves or others.  The state Board proposed policy positively prohibits the use of excessive force, or cruel and unusual punishment regarding student management.

“Restraint and/or seclusion should not be used as a punitive measure. We encourage school districts to ensure they have Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) in place. That is a firm foundation for any school environment,” said Dr. Carey Wright, state superintendent of education.

The policy defines restraint and seclusion and outlines requirements for school districts, which include:

• Written local school board-approved policies and procedures that define appropriate means of restraint and seclusion to provide for a safe and orderly education.  The policies and procedures apply to all students in the local school district and must not focus on one or more subgroups of students.
• School districts that permit restraint and seclusion must ensure that staff members are trained in the use of restraint.
• Each time a student is placed in restraint or seclusion, the incident must be documented in the student’s educational record and reported to the MDE and to the parents.
• After an incident of restraint and/or seclusion, all school personnel involved in the incident and appropriate administrative staff shall participate in a debriefing session for the purpose of planning to prevent or at least reduce the reoccurrence of the event.

“Our goal is to ensure the safety and security of all students and school staff while providing school districts with guidance for handling serious student behavioral issues,” Wright said.

The proposed policy can be found here. The public may provide comment on the policy for the next 30 days.

To submit a public comment, written comments must be sent to tthigpen@mdek12.org  or mailed to Tollie Thigpen, Office of Safe and Orderly Schools, Mississippi Department of Education, P.O. Box 771, Suite 210, Jackson, MS 39205-0771.