SECLUSION and Restraint
Seclusion and Restraint is a legal plan created by the Michigan Government. Seclusion is when a student is isolated in a space alone in order to help them calm down. Restraint is when a teacher or other adult in the classroom has to physically restrain a student from a behavior problem. When either seclusion or restraint are used, the adult who does this must do a write up about it.
Seclusion may be done when a student severely needs to calm him or herself down. The adult needs to be able to keep an eye on the student at all times so that the safety of the student is not compromised. Seclusion should not be used for longer than 15 minutes with elementary students and or longer than 20 minutes with high school students.
Physical restraint is something that should only be used as a last resort when students are clearly a safety hazard to themselves, others around them, or major property. When using physical restraint with a student, the adult must use the techniques that they have been trained with and must document everything that happened within 24 hours. Restraint should not be used any longer than necessary, and as a general rule should not be used for more than 10 minutes. Once restraint has been used, contact must be made with the student's parent as well as the school administrator. If at any point the student is having medical issues while being restrained, medical personal need to be contacted and the restraint must stop. After either seclusion or physical restraint has been used with a student, the adult involved and the student need to have a debriefing conversation about what happened and what needs to change so that this does not happen again.
For more information on either seclusion or restraint, please refer to either the Michigan Department of Education PDF or the tip sheet below.
Seclusion may be done when a student severely needs to calm him or herself down. The adult needs to be able to keep an eye on the student at all times so that the safety of the student is not compromised. Seclusion should not be used for longer than 15 minutes with elementary students and or longer than 20 minutes with high school students.
Physical restraint is something that should only be used as a last resort when students are clearly a safety hazard to themselves, others around them, or major property. When using physical restraint with a student, the adult must use the techniques that they have been trained with and must document everything that happened within 24 hours. Restraint should not be used any longer than necessary, and as a general rule should not be used for more than 10 minutes. Once restraint has been used, contact must be made with the student's parent as well as the school administrator. If at any point the student is having medical issues while being restrained, medical personal need to be contacted and the restraint must stop. After either seclusion or physical restraint has been used with a student, the adult involved and the student need to have a debriefing conversation about what happened and what needs to change so that this does not happen again.
For more information on either seclusion or restraint, please refer to either the Michigan Department of Education PDF or the tip sheet below.
MDE Seclusion and Restraint | |
File Size: | 1045 kb |
File Type: |
Seclusion and Restraint Tip Sheet | |
File Size: | 40 kb |
File Type: | doc |