1. Your Partner for Success!
Supporting Student Behavior: Standards for the Emergency Use of Seclusion and Restraint
Ionia County Intermediate School District
Your Partner for Success!
August 2007

2. Introduction
On December 12, 2006, The Michigan State Board of Education adopted guidelines entitled supporting student behavior: Standards for the Use of Seclusion of Restraint.
This is intended to be an overview of these guidelines. The entire State Board of Education document is available for your review at the Michigan Department of Education website

3. Emergency Seclusion: Definition
Seclusion is a last resort emergency safety intervention that provides an opportunity for the student to regain self-control. Seclusion is the confinement of a student in a room or other space from which the student is physically prevented from leaving and which provides for continuous adult observation of the student.
A room or area used for seclusion:
Must not be locked
Must not prevent the student from exiting the area should staff become incapacitated or leave that area
Must provide for adequate space, lighting, ventilation, viewing, and the safety of the student

4. Seclusion: Limitations in Use
Seclusion shall not be used:
For the convenience of staff
As a substitute for an educational program
As a form of discipline/punishment
As a substitute for less restrictive alternatives
As a substitute for adequate staffing
As a substitute for staff training in positive behavior supports and crisis prevention and intervention.
Seclusion is inappropriate for students who are severely self-injurious or suicidal.

5. Seclusion: Use of Emergency Seclusion
A behavior that requires immediate intervention constitutes an emergency. Emergency seclusion must be used only under emergency situations and if essential. An emergency that may require the use of seclusion includes behavior that:
Poses an imminent risk to the safety of an individual student
Poses an imminent risk to the safety of others

6. Seclusion: General Procedures
The LEA must ensure that substitute teachers are informed of all local emergency procedures, including the emergency use of seclusion and restraint.

7. Seclusion: Staff Requirements
While using seclusion, staff must:
Involve appropriately-trained key identified personnel to protect the care, welfare, dignity, and safety of the student
Document observations (See Documentation Data Sheet)
Continually observe the student in seclusion for indications of physical distress and seek medical assistance if there is a concern (See Handout Physical Signs of Distress)

8. Seclusion: Data Collection
The school district shall develop a system of data collection regarding the use of seclusion.
The data should:
Be reported to the Michigan Department of Ed
Include a list of appropriately-trained key identified personnel and their levels of:
Education
Training
Knowledge

9. Seclusion: Prohibited Practices
The following are prohibited under all circumstances, including emergency situations:
Corporal punishment as defined in § (1) of the Revised School Code, 1976 PA 451
The deprivation of basic needs
Anything constituting child abuse
Seclusion of preschool children
The intentional application of any noxious substance (s) or stimuli which results in physical pain or extreme discomfort. A noxious substance or stimuli can either be generally acknowledged or specific to the student.

10. Emergency Restraint: Definition
Physical Restraint involves direct physical contact that prevents or significantly restricts a student’s movement. Restraint is an opportunity for the student to regain self-control. This policy on physical restraint is not intended to forbid actions undertaken:
To break up a fight
To take a weapon away from a student
The brief holding by an adult in order to calm or comfort
The minimum contact necessary to physically escort a student from one area to another
Assisting a student in completing a task/response if the student does not resist or resistance is minimal in intensity and duration.
To hold a student for a brief time in order to prevent an impulsive behavior that threatens the student’s immediate safety (e.g., running in front of a car).

11. Restraint: Limitations in Use
Restraint shall not be used for:
The convenience of staff
As a substitute for an educational program
As a form of discipline/punishment
As a substitute for less restrictive alternatives
As a substitute for adequate staffing
As a substitute for staff training in positive behavior supports and crisis prevention and intervention

12. Restraint: Emergency Use
A behavior that requires immediate intervention constitutes an emergency. Emergency restraint must be used only under emergency situations and if essential.
An emergency that may require the use of restraint includes behavior that:
Poses an imminent risk to the safety of an individual student
Poses an imminent risk to the safety of others
Is otherwise governed by The Revised School Code, 1976 PA 451, otherwise known as the Corporal Punishment Act

13. Restraint: Staff Shall
Staff shall immediately call for help from within the building at the onset of an emergency.
An LEA must ensure that substitute teachers are informed of all local emergency procedures, including the emergency use of seclusion and restraint.

14. Restraint: Staff Requirements
While using restraint, staff must:
Involve appropriately-trained key identified personnel to protect the care, welfare, dignity, and safety of the student
Continually observe the student in restraint for indications of physical distress and seek medical assistance if there is a concern
Document observations

15. Restraint: Prohibited Practices
The following procedures are prohibited under all circumstances, including emergency situations:
Mechanical restraint
Chemical restraint
Corporal punishment as defined in § (1) of the Revised School Code, 1976 PA 451, otherwise known as the corporal punishment act
The deprivation of basic needs

16. Restraint: Prohibited Practices Continued….
Anything constituting child abuse
Any restraint that negatively impacts breathing
Prone restraint
School personnel who find themselves involved in the use of a prone restraint as the result of responding to an emergency must take immediate steps to end the restraint
The intentional application of any noxious substance(s) or stimuli which results in physical pain or extreme discomfort. A noxious substance or stimuli can either be generally acknowledged or specific to the student

17. Seclusion & Restraint: Emergency Intervention Plan
Should a pattern of behavior which requires the use of emergency seclusion or restraint emerge, or be anticipated, an emergency intervention plan should be developed in addition to the Positive Behavioral Support Plan to protect the health, safety, and dignity of the student.

18. Seclusion & Restraint: Documentation and Reporting
Each use of an emergency seclusion or restraint and the reason for each use shall be:
Documented in writing and reported to the building administration immediately
Reported to the parent or guardian immediately or as soon as possible
Documented in a written report for each use of seclusion or physical restraint (including multiple uses within a given day) and given to the parent or guardian within 24 hours.

19. Seclusion & Restraint: Debriefing
After the use of Seclusion or Restraint, staff must debrief and consult with parents and students
Postvention provides an opportunity to work toward change and growth for individiuals who have acted out, as well as for staff members. Without a postvention process such as the one described below, crises are likely to occur over and over again.

20. Seclusion & Restraint: Debriefing Process
Control
Orient
Patterns
Investigate
Negotiate
Give
Make sure that staff and the student who acted out are back under emotional and physical control before the incident is discussed.
Orient yourself to the basic facts. What happened? Be non-judgmental and listen.
Look for patterns of past behavior. What triggers the behavior?
Investigate alternatives to the inappropriate behaviors and resources that could be helpful in making behavioral changes.
Negotiate a contract with the student, including consequences for positive and negative behavior.
Give control back to the student as well as give your support and encouragement to them.

21. Seclusion & Restraint: Data Collection
The school district shall develop a system of data collection regarding the use of seclusion
The data should:
Be reported to the MDE
Include a list of appropriately-trained key identified personnel and their levels of :
Education
Training
knowledge

22. The Following People are Strongly Recommended for Serving as Key Identified Personnel Within Each Building
Local Education Agencies will identify sufficient key personnel to ensure that trained personnel are available for an emergency situation
The following list is NOT exhaustive:
Principals and Assistant Principals
School Counselors
School Social Workers
Special Education Teachers & Para Educators
Selected General Education Teachers
Transportation Supervisors
Special Education Bus Drivers & Para Educators
Remember to consider “key” times of the day: cafeteria, playground, transportation etc.

23. Ionia County ISD Your Partner for Success
Thank You!!
Ionia County ISD
Your Partner for Success