WE URGE YOU TO VOTE YES TO PASS LD. 1373, “An Act To Keep All Maine Students Safe by Restricting the Use of Seclusion and Restraint in Schools.”

Restraint and Seclusion (R&S) are the only interventions implemented in school that carry serious risks like trauma or injury, and even more unimaginable, death. We are very concerned that some of Maine’s special purpose programs and schools restrain and seclude children at much higher rates than most states.  In 2020 alone, Maine reported 17,262 instances of physical restraint and 4,417 instances of seclusion.  We are also very concerned that R&S disproportionately impacts Maine Students with Disabilities (SWD).

R&S are emergency interventions that are already required by ME Department of Education’s rule Ch. 33 to only be used as a last resort to prevent injury. R&S are also required not to be used to control challenging behavior or as a therapeutic intervention.

Although the bill has been amended to remove the prohibition of seclusion, it is still worthwhile! WE URGE YOU TO VOTE YES so that ALL COVERED ENTITIES must consider when R&S is contraindicated based on a student’s disability, or health care needs, or medical or psychiatric condition.

WE URGE YOU TO PASS LD 1373 TO PROHIBIT ALL COVERED ENTITIES from using the most dangerous types of physical restraint that can be life-threatening or restrict blood flow to the brain, including a PRONE RESTRAINT.

We URGE YOU TO VOTE YES TO PASS LD 1373 to better protect SWD and ALL STUDENTS in Maine from these dangerous interventions!