Executive Summary
Addressing restraint or isolation of students in public schools and educational programs
Background
State law permits the use of restraint or isolation on a student only under limited circumstances. Districts must adopt policies governing the safe and limited use of these practices. Additional requirements apply to students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) or Section 504 plans. After any incident involving restraint or isolation, schools are required to complete specified notification, review, and reporting procedures.
Data about Restraint & Isolation in Washington:
- In the 2019-2020 school year, there were 25,415 incidents of restraint and isolation across the state.
- 3,825 students were subjected to these incidents, which means many of the same students were isolated or restrained repeatedly throughout the year.
- 92% of K-12 students restrained and/or isolated that year have an intellectual or developmental disability.
- In addition to students with disabilities, Black students at every grade level experience restraint and isolation disproportionately more than their peers (at twice their proportion of enrollment). Moreover, 80% of incidents overall happen to male students.
- Interviews of students who have experienced restraint & isolation report lasting physical and emotional trauma because of the abuse of these classroom practices.
Summary
Bans dangerous restraints
- Defines and prohibits chemical and mechanical restraints. Prohibits any restraint that restricts breathing or blood flow.
Strengthens existing protections
- Current rules already ban breathing-interference restraints for students in special education. HB 1795 extends this protection to all students.
Clarifies limits on restraint
- States that property destruction alone is not a valid reason to restrain a student.
Continues statewide support
- Extends OSPI’s Restraint Reduction and Isolation Elimination project, providing technical assistance to select districts that eliminate isolation and reduce restraint use. (Cost neutral as funding is already budgeted for biennium.)
Stops new isolation rooms
- Prevents construction of new isolation rooms. (Schools can still create sensory/calming spaces, which are best practice.)
Key Points
Efforts to limit or ban restraint and isolation practices in Washington schools are not new. Advocates, parents, students, and educators have pushed for reform for years, with heightened momentum over the past four legislative sessions. While this bill represents progress, its scope has narrowed significantly through negotiations compared to earlier proposals. The current language focuses on prohibiting the most dangerous interventions, tightening conditions for planned restraint, and refining definitions, but stops short of a full ban on isolation.
Other Resources
Ways to Get Involved
Steps to Get Started
- Learn where the bill is in the legislative process.
- If there is an upcoming hearing, decide how you would like to get your voice heard and take action.
- If there is not an upcoming hearing, or if you want to supplement your advocacy, call or write your legislators.
- Spread the word and get other people on board.
Participating in a Hearing
Sign in Pro, Con, or Other
This is when individuals, advocates, and organizations make their position on a particular bill known for the record. This is particularly powerful in large numbers. Many organizations will send out Action Alerts asking people to sign in Pro or Con on a bill.
Submit Written Testimony
Submitting written testimony is a great way not only to make your position known to legislators but also to explain why in more detail. This is a good option if you don’t want to speak in front of others. People also like to offer more nuance to their position by writing.
Testify Virtually
Since COVID, many legislators are allowing remote/virtual testimony for bill hearings, as it greatly expands access to the legislative process across the state. For this, individuals usually have between 1-2 minutes to state their opinion on a bill in front of the legislative committee on Zoom.