Following this week’s hearing of the Education and Labor Committee on seclusion and restraint in schools - during which it was revealed that children have been abused, injured, and even killed through misuse of such tactics - Rep. Howard P. “Buck" McKeon (R-CA) has requested a detailed analysis of the U.S. Department of Education’s proposed response to the problem, and plans to protect children in the future.
“No child should suffer the physical or emotional damage that comes from misuse of seclusion and restraint in our nation’s schools," said McKeon, the Education and Labor Committee’s top Republican. “The incidents uncovered by the GAO and discussed before our Committee this week were deeply disturbing, and I applaud Secretary Duncan for immediately responding with plans to protect children from such abuse in the future."
Education Secretary Arne Duncan testified before the Committee this week, during which he pledged to quickly investigate what steps states are taking to prevent such abuse in our nation’s schools.
McKeon wrote to Secretary Duncan today to seek additional information about his agency’s plans to root out these abusive tactics in schools and ensure states have the necessary safeguards in place to prevent misuse of seclusion and restraint. McKeon’s letter requests information on the Department’s plans for information gathering and oversight in this area, and specifically inquires about the tools available under existing special education laws to help states and teachers support children with disabilities.
