Board delays action on new rules for school seclusion rooms

The Iowa State Board of Education has delayed final action on new rules that would limit districts from using seclusion rooms to discipline students.

The Iowa State Board of Education has delayed final action on new rules that would limit districts from using seclusion rooms to discipline students.

IN THIS SECLUSION ROOM IN AN IOWA CITY SCHOOL, THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT LEARNED SEVERAL YEARS AGO STAFF PUT STUDENTS IN FOR MINOR INCIDENTS AND LEFT SOME FOR NEARLY AN HOUR. >> IF YOU’RE A KID BEING IN THERE IS LIKE BEING IN JAIL, CYNTHIA THE ACLU OF IOWA IS : AGAINST THIS SOLITARY CONFINEMENT AND IS SUPPORTING NEW RULES TO LIMIT THE USE OF ISOLATION ROOMS, SOME AS SMALL AS CLOSETS. >> WHAT THE RULES SAY IS T SECLUSION ROOMS CAN ONLY BE USED AS A LAST RESORT, ONLY IN EMERGENCIES, AND NOT FOR DISCIPLINE. THE GOAL IS NOT TO USE THESE ROOMS WHEN THEY SHOULDN’T BE BECAUSE IT’S A REAL NEGATIVE IMPACT ON KIDS. CYNTHIA BUT SCHOOL : ADMINISTRATORS OF IOWA SAY IT SHOULD BE UP TO TEACHERS AND PRINCIPALS TO DECIDE IF RESTRAINING A STUDENT IS NEEDED TO DE-ESCALATE OUT OF CONTROL BEHAVIOR. >> THERE ARE TIMES THAT SOME EDUCATORS SAY FOR THE SAFETY OF STUDENTS WHO ARE PUT INTO SECLUSION ROOMS FOR THEIR SAFETY AND SAFETY OF OTHERS, THAT’S WHY THOSE ROOMS ARE UTILIZED. CYNTHIA THE NEW RULES REQUIRE : PARENTS BE NOTIFIED IMMEDIATELY USING THE SCHOOL’S EMERGENCY CONTACT SYSTEM. THAT WOULD BE BURDENSOME FOR >>THAT WOULD BE BURDENSOME FOR EDUCATORS AND TAKE AWAY TIME WITH CHILDREN IN THE CLASSROOM. CYNTHIA IN MOST DES MOINES : SCHOOLS, STUDENTS ARE SECLUDED IN A REGULAR ROOM IF THEY POSE A RISK. IN JOHNSTON, THEY CALL IT A COOL DOWN ROOM. THE NEW RULES STATES RESTRAINT SHOULD ONLY BE USED FOR AS LONG AS NECESSARY >> THAT’S A GOAL, TO MAKE SURE WE ARE NOT USING IT FOR MINOR DISCIPLINE, USING IT ONLY

Board delays action on new rules for school seclusion rooms

The Iowa State Board of Education has delayed final action on new rules that would limit districts from using seclusion rooms to discipline students.

The Iowa State Board of Education has delayed final action on new rules that would limit districts from using seclusion rooms to discipline students.On Thursday the board rejected the proposed changes in a section of the Iowa Code that governs how schools restrain and seclude students. The board decided to seek more feedback in the fall and reconsider the proposals.The rooms have come under scrutiny in recent years. The state Department of Education determined in 2017 that the Iowa City Community School District improperly used the rooms for minor infractions.The American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa and Disability Rights Iowa helped draft the proposed rule changes, citing concerns that districts have used the rooms too frequently, particularly with students with disabilities and black students.Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.ACLU of Iowa wants changes to state rules on seclusion rooms

DES MOINES, Iowa —

The Iowa State Board of Education has delayed final action on new rules that would limit districts from using seclusion rooms to discipline students.

On Thursday the board rejected the proposed changes in a section of the Iowa Code that governs how schools restrain and seclude students. The board decided to seek more feedback in the fall and reconsider the proposals.

The rooms have come under scrutiny in recent years. The state Department of Education determined in 2017 that the Iowa City Community School District improperly used the rooms for minor infractions.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa and Disability Rights Iowa helped draft the proposed rule changes, citing concerns that districts have used the rooms too frequently, particularly with students with disabilities and black students.

ACLU of Iowa wants changes to state rules on seclusion rooms

Board delays action on new rules for school seclusion rooms

The Iowa State Board of Education has delayed final action on new rules that would limit districts from using seclusion rooms to discipline students.

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