Secluding Schools and Restraining States: Congress Prepares to Regulate Private Schools

Sarah Torre / March 12, 2010

The Keeping Children Safe Act might sound laudable in name, but it represents the most recent intrusion of the federal government on local public and private schools. H.R. 4247, which passed the House last week by a vote of 262 to 153, prescribes federal regulations on seclusion and restraint disciplinary procedures used by teachers to control violent students. While the intentions may have been to protect children, the compliance requirements make the legislation another unnecessary and unfunded federal burden on states and local schools.

The bill contains an unprecedented mandate for increased teacher training, requiring schools – both public and private – to employ at least one teacher trained in federally-defined appropriate disciplinary action. (more…)