(2021, November 5) | Relevant to Parent Centers, families of children with disabilities, disability advocates, and state and local public education systems with respect to policies and practices regarding restraint and seclusion of children with disabilities
The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) at the U.S. Department of Education has resolved its compliance review of the Saco Public Schools in Maine with respect to restraint and seclusion of children with disabilites. The district entered a voluntary agreement to take steps necessary to ensure students with disabilities receive the free appropriate public education (FAPE) to which they are entitled without unnecessary restraint or seclusion or reducing their school days. The agreement calls for identifying ways to minimize the involvement of a school resource officer in student misconduct that can be safely and appropriately handled by school personnel. The agreement includes a requirement to report accurate data to the Department as part of the Civil Rights Data Collection.
In resolving the compliance review, OCR released its 18-page letter to the school district as well as the agreement reached (OCR Compliance Review No. 01-19-5001, 8 pages). Both are excellent resources to consult in developing, monitoring, and accurately reporting on the use of restraint and seclusion in schools.
Read OCR’s news release on the resolution:
https://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/us-department-educations-office-civil-rights-reaches-agreement-resolve-restraint-and-seclusion-compliance-review-saco-maine-public-schools
Access OCR’s letter to the school district:
https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/investigations/more/01195001-a.pdf
Access the final agreement reached between OCR and the school district:
https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/investigations/more/01195001-b.pdf