Louisiana Updates Seclusion and Restraint Law, Adds Protections for Students with Disabilities
- COPAA
- 5 days ago
- 1 min read
In 2025, Louisiana passed Act 479, updating its 2011 seclusion and restraint law to strengthen protections for students, especially those with disabilities, during behavioral crises in schools. The new law closes major gaps by requiring same-day parent notification, written reports, and medical evaluations whenever seclusion or restraint is used. It also mandates training for staff, clearer rules on who may intervene, and stricter oversight.
A key change requires cameras in all special education classrooms by February 1, 2026, improving transparency. The law encourages replacing isolated seclusion rooms with sensory-based calming spaces and addresses widespread under reporting of incidents under the old law.
Advocates, education leaders, and charter school officials support the update, saying it modernizes crisis response practices, improves communication with families, and ensures restraint or seclusion is used only as a last resort to protect student safety.