C400 Seclusion and Restraint

It is the policy of the Board that all students are to be treated with dignity and respect and to be free from abuse. The Board supports the promotion and training of appropriate student behavior as part of the Corporation's curriculum. It is the policy of the Board to use prevention, positive behavior intervention and support, and conflict de-escalation to eliminate or minimize the need for the use of physical intervention, seclusion, or restraint with students. This policy applies to all students, regardless of the existence of a disability.

The Board authorizes its employees to use physical intervention in the defense of self or others (for example, intervening to stop students who are in a physical altercation). The use of physical intervention by a District employee shall be considered as a last alternative and shall be limited to those situations in which non-physical alternatives have been ineffective or were unlikely to be effective. A decision to use physical intervention will be evaluated recognizing the exigent circumstances in which it is made.

General Guidelines

Any behavioral interventions must be consistent with a student's right to be treated with dignity and respect and to be free from abuse.

Any behavioral intervention used must be consistent with the student's most recent individualized education program (IEP) and with the student's behavior intervention plan (BIP), if applicable.

Physical intervention, seclusion and restraint are to be used only: 1) as a last resort safety procedure employed after another, less restrictive procedure has been implemented without success; and 2) when there is an imminent risk of injury to the student, other students, school employees, or visitors to the school.

Physical intervention, seclusion, or restraint may be used only for a short period of time or until the imminent risk of injury has passed.

Any instance of physical intervention, seclusion, or restraint must be documented and parents notified as indicated in the administrative guidelines.

Administrative Guidelines and Forms

The Superintendent is authorized to issue administrative guidelines, directives, and forms, including but not limited to, the Incident Report and the Staff Processing of Seclusion or Restraint Form, as needed to fully implement this policy and document compliance.

• I.C. 20-20-40-1 et. seq.
• Adopted/Revised: June 17, 2019