The Keeping All Students Safe Act has been introduced in both the House and Senate. This bill would make it illegal for any school receiving federal funds to seclude a child or use dangerous restraint practices that restrict breathing, such as prone or supine restraint.  The bill would also prohibit schools from physically restraining children, except when necessary to protect students and staff. Lastly, the bill would better equip school personnel with the training they need to address school-expected behavior with evidence-based proactive strategies. According to the 2018 Civil Rights Data Collection, of the students restrained or secluded, 78 percent were students with disabilities. Although Black students comprise 15 percent of the student population, they represent 22 percent of students subjected to seclusion and 34 percent of students subjected to mechanical restraint.

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Now is the time to email your members of Congress and tell them to pass this vital bill. Students with disabilities deserve the opportunity to pursue their education free from the fear of trauma and abuse. Let’s end these dangerous practices in schools today!