Bazelon: New Data Affirms Federal Efforts to Expand Pos. Behavioral Supports, Limit Seclusion/Restraint in Schools

New Data Affirm Need for Federal Efforts to Support School Success for All Children

Washington — March 7, 2012 — New national survey data released by the U.S. Department of Education reinforces the need for Congress to pass legislation that expands the use of school-wide positive behavior supports and that provides minimum standards on the use of restraint and seclusion in our nation’s schools. A summary of the data is available from the Department of Education.

“The Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law applauds the leadership of those senators and representatives sponsoring and supporting the Positive Behavior for Safe and Effective Schools Act (HR 3165), Achievement Through Prevention Act (S. 541) and Keeping All Students Safe Act (H.R. 1381, S. 2020),” stated Laurel Stine, director of federal relations with the Judge David L. Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law. “Enacting these important bills would help address the new survey’s troubling findings on inequities associated with school discipline,” Stine added.

“Creating a school climate that is conducive to learning for all students must be at the top of our nation’s education agenda,” stated Lewis Bossing, senior staff attorney with the Bazelon Center. “But according to the new data, students with disabilities are suspended at a rate twice that of students without disabilities, and represent 70% of those physically restrained by adults in school settings.”

“When school-wide positive behavior supports are implemented effectively,” explained Stine, “it results in greater academic achievement, significantly fewer disciplinary problems, lower expulsion and suspension rates, and increased teacher instruction time, all of which are beneficial for all students.”  

For more information, see the Bazelon Center’s Education web portal and especially these reports: 

• Left Out, Pushed Out, Placed Out and Worse…How Children with Serious Mental Health Problems Are Treated in Our Schools-And How to Fix It 
• Building Schools Where Kids Learn: What Is the Best Option? 

Also see our In Congress page for more information on legislation. 

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The Judge David L. Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law (www.bazelon.org) is the leading national legal-advocacy organization representing people with mental disabilities. It promotes laws and policies that can enable people with serious mental illnesses or intellectual disabilities to exercise their life choices and access the resources they need to participate fully in their communities.

For more information or to speak to an expert from the Bazelon Center on this issue, contact Dominic Holt at  dominic @ bazelon.org or 202.467.5730, ext. 311.

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