- Seclusion is the involuntary confinement of a student alone in an area from which the student is physically prevented from leaving.
- Restraint means to be physically held, including physical restraint (a personal restriction that immobilizes or reduces the ability of a student to move his or her torso, arms, legs, or head freely) and mechanical restraint (the use of a device to restrict a student’s freedom of movement).
Seclusion and Restraint Information for Parents Seclusion and restraint are disproportionately used on students with disabilities and can be a denial of FAPE. Michigan Alliance for Families has created this document to inform families whose children experience seclusion and/or restraint or may be at risk of experiencing seclusion and/or restraint.
Michigan seclusion and restraint laws
2016 legislation (Public Acts 394-402 of 2016) says that restraint and seclusion practices may only be used if a child is a danger to themselves or others. The bills also require any use of restraint and seclusion to be reported to the parents and the Michigan Department of Education, as well as mandate additional training for school personnel on how to handle behavioral situations.
- Require districts and intermediate school districts to develop policies that follow the state plan.
- Define the conditions under which seclusion and restraint could be used during emergencies and require that such incidents be reported.
- Establish a “positive behavioral support system and intervention plan” to be adopted by all schools.
- Create best practices for data collection on incidents and school training requirements for emergencies.
Seclusion and Restraint Documents from Michigan Department of Education
- Policy for the Emergency Use of Seclusion and Restraint MDE
- Emergency Use of Seclusion and Physical Restraint Frequently Asked Questions MDE
- Supporting Student Behavior Standards for the Emergency use of Seclusion and Restraint MDE
- Seclusion and Restraint Documentation Form MDE
- Seclusion and Restraint Debriefing Form MDE
- Use of Seclusion and Restraint by Intermediate School District MDE
We also have a series of webpages to help understand behavior:
Accommodations/Modifications Sometimes an accommodation or modification to the classroom or the curriculum is the solution to a challenging behavior
Behavior Intervention Plan A written plan that identifies problem behaviors and how they will be addressed.
Behavior is Communication All behavior happens for a reason, but why?
Bullying Definitions, actions to take, specific protections for students with disabilities.
Discipline Covering discipline, suspension, expulsion, manifestation determination review.
Functional Behavior Assessment/Analysis A process for collecting data and analyzing the function of (ie- the reason why) a challenging behavior is occurring.
Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports An approach to addressing challenging behaviors that teaches positive behavior skills rather than just using punishment.
Seclusion and Restraint “Seclusion” means the confinement of a pupil in a room or other space from which the pupil is physically prevented from leaving. “Restraint” means an action that prevents or significantly restricts a pupil’s movement.
Sensory Processing dysfunction can be seen as noncompliance or bad behavior.
School-Wide PBIS A building-wide initiative to support all students in school.
