Michigan lawmaker to push bill banning school seclusion of students

Michigan schools secluded or restrained students nearly 18,000 times during the 2024-2025 school year, a decline from the previous two years but still concentrated overwhelmingly among students with disabilities, according to state data. The figures come nearly a decade after a state law aimed at reducing such practices took effect.

State Sen. Stephanie Chang, D-Detroit, plans to introduce legislation this fall that would prohibit seclusion of students entirely and limit restraint to emergency situations where it is essential to prevent imminent serious bodily harm. Districts found to use restraint excessively, as determined by the Michigan Department of Education, would have to submit plans to reduce it, and staff who may respond to emergencies would be required to undergo training on how trauma affects student learning.

Michigan Advocates to End Seclusion & Restraint, an advocacy group whose leaders include people who say they were secluded as children, backs the proposal and says current safeguards have not gone far enough. Some educators, including Kent Intermediate School District assistant superintendent Kirsten Myers, agree reliance on the practices should decrease but argue eliminating them outright in a crisis is concerning, noting many districts already use an existing voluntary training program covering de-escalation and trauma-informed approaches.

Read the full story at kdhnews.com.