The Keeping All Students Safe Act (Senate Bill 3626 and House of Representatives Bill 7124) was referred to committees on November 14, 2018. It prohibits the use of seclusion and prevents and limits the use of physical restraint in schools. As Representative Don Beyer notes in this press release, “No child should be afraid for their safety when they go to school. All too often students are subjected to abusive discipline techniques, which disproportionately affects minority and students with disabilities. A majority of states have already instituted bans on seclusion and inappropriate restraint in the classroom, and it is time we do so nationwide.” This legislation promotes the prevention of problematic behaviors through the use of evidence-based de-escalation techniques, interventions, and supports and in doing so, ensures the safety of all students and teachers.
Please join us in thanking Senator Chris Murphy and Representative Don Beyer for introducing these bills into Congress and contact your legislators to express your support. You can find the contact information for your Representative in the House here and your senator here.  Please contact each member of the committees now considering these bills. You can find the members and their contact information here:

Senate: Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
House: Education and Workforce and Armed Services committees.

Share your stories about how you or your child has been affected by these practices. Together we can make this the year that our country finally address this human rights issue, bringing us one step closer to dismantling the school-to-prison pipeline, a key part of securing Mental Health Justice for all children.