On Aug. 22, regulations on the use of seclusion and restraint in public elementary and secondary schools in the Commonwealth of Virginia were finalized, with an implementation date of Jan. 1. Virginia now has regulations that legitimize practices that are ineffective, cruel and harmful.
For those unfamiliar with restraint and seclusion, here are the definitions:
Restraint is a personal restriction that immobilizes or reduces the ability of a student to move his or her torso, arms, legs, or head freely. Seclusion is the involuntary confinement of a student alone in a room or area from which the student is physically prevented from leaving.
These regulations make it perfectly acceptable to restrain or seclude students if the requirements set forth in the regulations are met. Five years in the making, advocates were sharply divided about making comments during the 30-day public comment period prior to finalization. Those who had worked so hard to get regulations in place feared that they would be delayed or derailed by comments. Other advocates felt that the regulations didn’t provide enough protection to make a substantial impact.