State School Board Continues Debate On Seclusion Rooms

A seclusion room at Beatty Park Elementary School in Columbus has a peephole in the door.(Photo: Ohio Legal Rights Service)

7:47AM

December 10, 2012

by The Associated Press

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A seclusion room at Beatty Park Elementary School in Columbus has a peephole in the door.(Photo: Ohio Legal Rights Service)

The Ohio Board of Education is continuing to debate new regulations for how educators should seclude and physically restrain students.

The board has scheduled a committee meeting and board presentation today. Some educators have balked at setting rules for such practices, complaining they could overburden school systems with training, testing and paperwork. Parents and advocates for special-needs children generally want to see such policies in place to protect children. A vote on any policy suggestions is not expected until next month’s meeting.

An investigation by WOSU, other Ohio public radio staions, and the Columbus Dispatch showed the state does not have any policy regarding the use of seclusion rooms, and many schools misuse or overuse the rooms that are meant to seclude dangerous and/or unruly students.