TAKE ACTION TO END THE CRIMINALIZATION OF CONCERNING BEHAVIOR IN SCHOOLS AND TO HELP KIDS GET THE HELP THEY REALLY NEED

Your voice can spur the beginning of the end of the school-to-prison pipeline.

Connecticut: An act concerning special education (HB 1200)

Senate Bill 1200 promotes greater equity in education and offers significant civil rights protections for students and their families. A ban on seclusions and significant restrictions on restraints in public and private schools are among the many provisions of this legislation.  Physical restraint is prohibited by all school employees, except as an emergency intervention to prevent injury to self or others. All life-threatening physical restraints and use of  psychopharmacologic agents on a student are prohibited. No school employee is permitted to use physical restraint as a planned intervention in a student’s Behavioral Intervention Plan, individualized Education Program or plan pursuant to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. No school employee is permitted to use seclusion, except as an emergency intervention to prevent immediate injury to self for others, and safety guidelines are provided for those incidents. Seclusion is also not permitted to be used as a planned intervention, included in an Individualized Education Program or a plan pursuant to section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Increasing evidence shows that restraint and seclusion are ineffective and cause significant emotional and physical harm.

Send an email to your state legislators now to let them know where you stand on this issue! Personalizing the message increases its impact.