Bill > SB5654

This bill addresses the use of restraint and isolation in public schools, with a comprehensive approach to protecting students and improving school safety. The legislation prohibits certain harmful practices such as chemical restraint, mechanical restraint, and isolation, except under very specific, limited circumstances where a student poses an imminent likelihood of serious harm. The bill requires schools to prioritize less restrictive interventions, implement trauma-informed approaches, and extensively document and review any incidents of restraint or isolation. Key provisions include mandating staff training on behavior management and crisis prevention, establishing reporting requirements for incidents, creating technical assistance and support systems for schools, and requiring the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction to develop model training plans and provide ongoing monitoring. The bill also aims to reduce disparities in the use of isolation and restraint, particularly for students with disabilities, and seeks to gradually phase out isolation for younger students (prekindergarten through fifth grade) by 2027. Additionally, the legislation requires integration of behavior management skills into educator preparation programs and mandates annual reporting on the implementation of these new requirements.

Education

https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5654&Year=2025&Initiative=false