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Tell Congress: End the Use of Seclusion and Restraint on Students and Target Resources to Train School Staff

Tell Congress to support and pass the Keeping All Students Safe Act (KASSA). This bill would prohibit schools from secluding any child or use any dangerous restraints that restrict breathing or can cause harm. KASSA would only allow restraint when needed to protect students and staff from serious physical injury. Importantly, the bill would provide funds to train school personnel so they can address behaviors with proactive evidence-based strategies.

According to the 2018 Civil Rights Data Collection, of the students restrained or secluded, 78 percent were students with disabilities. Although Black students comprise 15 percent of the student population, they represent 22 percent of students subjected to seclusion and 34 percent of students subjected to mechanical restraint.

Students with disabilities deserve the opportunity to pursue their education free from the fear of trauma and abuse. Let’s end these dangerous practices in schools today!

Tell Congress to PASS the Keeping All Students Safe Act (KASSA)!

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Pass the Keeping All Students Safe Act (KASSA)

I write to ask that you cosponsor and support passage of the Keeping All Students Safe Act (KASSA).

For too long, students with disabilities and students of color have been subjected to harsh discipline including the abuses of seclusion and restraint. Too many states do not have policies that protect students from the trauma and abuse of these practices and too often parents are not even aware their child is being secluded or restrained at school. Because too few schools have the resources needed to train staff in evidence-based practices that support students' behavior and keep adults and children safe, students with disabilities are at the greatest risk of being secluded and restrained. According to the 2018 Civil Rights Data Collection, of the students restrained or secluded, 78 percent were students with disabilities. Congress must take action now.

By co-sponsoring and enacting KASSA, you can ensure that schools put an end to abusive treatment of students and become safe havens to facilitate learning for all. KASSA's provisions help districts transform schools by prohibiting dangerous practices and providing funding to train school personnel in evidence-based practices so everyone is safe.

Please help put an end to schools’ use of seclusion and restraint, and direct federal funding to expand school personnel training. In doing so, schools will be better equipped to meet the mental health and behavioral needs of all students.

Thank you for your consideration of this important bill.

U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives

Subject: Support the Keeping All Students Safe Act

Message:

The Keeping All Students Safe Act (KASSA) would protect children and prohibit any school receiving federal funds to seclude a child or use mechanical restraint, chemical restraint, and prone, supine, or physical restraint that restricts breathing, stops blood flow to the brain, or is life threatening. Schools would only be allowed to physically restrain a child to protect self or others from imminent danger of serious physical injury. Schools may not plan to restrain as part of the child’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) and parents are provided a private right of action in the instance of unlawful seclusion or restraint. Importantly, the bill would make funds available to better equip school personnel with the training they need to address school-expected behavior with evidence-based proactive strategies.

According to the 2018 Civil Rights Data Collection, of the students restrained or secluded, 78 percent were students with disabilities. Although Black students comprise 15 percent of the student population, they represent 22 percent of students subjected to seclusion and 34 percent of students subjected to mechanical restraint.

These abuses not only place the student at risk of serious physical and psychological harm, but also violate his or her dignity and right to be free from abusive treatment.

Congress must pass this vital bill. Students with disabilities and students of color deserve the opportunity to pursue their education free from the fear of trauma and abuse. Let’s end these dangerous practices in schools today!

Tell Congress: End the Use of Seclusion and Restraint on Students and Target Resources to Train School Staff

Pass the Keeping All Students Safe Act (KASSA)

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Join COPAA!

Tell Congress: End the Use of Seclusion and Restraint on Students and Target Resources to Train School Staff

Pass the Keeping All Students Safe Act (KASSA)

Sorry, we're not targeting any representatives in your district. But you can still help!

Thank You!

Join COPAA!