Disability Resources by Category

Alachua County- Newest School District Restraint and Seclusion Policies and Procedures

You can find Alachua County's policies and procedures in:

Alachua County’s current Exceptional Student Education Policies and Procedures (SP&P) (pages 4a-4n) updated July 2012.

The document can be accessed from this FLDOE link:

http://www.fldoe.org/ese/ppd/Alachua.pdf

From January 2012- April 2012, Alachua County reported that 4% of the 27 restraint incidents were prone restraints.

Alachua County's new July 2012 policies indicate prone restraint is prohibited.

Alachua County policy does indicate use of physical/mechanical restraint and seclusion.

For Aug 2011-June 2012, Alachua County reported 71 instances of restraint on 33 students. 63% of these students were students with emotional behavioral disorders or autism.

Alachua County also reported 17 instances of seclusion on 10 students. 60% of those students were students with emotional behavioral disorder or autism.

Alachua County’s formal Non-Violent Crisis Intervention training from Crisis Prevention Institute is provided through annually through the Florida Diagnostic and Learning Resources System (FDLRS). 6 hours of update training is also offered annually.

Employees receive training in the safe use of seclusion and physical or mechanical restraint. Superintendents shall require that appropriate training is provided for the immediate supervisors to ensure that measures are implemented according to the policy.

To reduce the use of restraint and seclusion, Alachua County’s plans include:

• Additional training in positive behavioral support and crisis management
• Parental involvement
• Data review
• Updates on students’’ functional behavioral analysis
• Additional student evaluations
• Debriefing with staff
• Use of school-wide positive behavioral support
• Changes to the school environment

The County further plans to provide schools with guidance by district staff to assure accurate reporting and maintenance of records.

Bay County- Newest School District Restraint and Seclusion Policies and Procedures

The two places you need to look to find Bay County's policies and procedures are:

a) Bay County’s current Exceptional Student Education Policies and Procedures (SP&P) (pages 4a-4n) updated in March 2012 and

b) Bay County's Policy for Manual Physical Restraint and Seclusion located in Appedix D of the SP&P.

Both documents can be accessed from this FLDOE link:

http://www.fldoe.org/ese/ppd/Bay.pdf

Bay County reports that it does not use prone or mechanical restraint and the reporting data available seems to confirm that.

From August 2011 – June 2012, Bay County reported 138 incidents of restraint on 67 students. Of those students, 75% are diagnosed with autism or an emotional behavioral disorder. Bay County reports that most of the restraints occur in their Center Schools.

Bay County does use seclusion. From August 2011 – June 2012, Bay County reported 87 incidents of seclusion on 38 students. 84% of those students are diagnosed with autism or have an emotional behavioral disorder. Bay County also reports that all of their seclusion incidents occur in Center Schools.

Bay District Schools use Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) as its program to train personnel. Both Initial trainings and refresher training are conducted annually.

If you would like to learn more about CPI, their website may be helpful:

http://www.crisisprevention.com/

Bay County plans to reduce the total number of incidents of restrain and seclusion during the 2011 – 2012 school year by 5%.

Activities include:

• Compiling data from the DOE website for the ESE Director to evaluate
• School based teams responsible for addressing restraint and seclusion trends at both the school and individual level
• Training to all local schools with CPI
• Expand the use of Positive Behavior Support in schools. Currently Bay County has 23 PBS schools

Broward County – Newest School District Restraint and Seclusion Policies and Procedures

You can find Broward County’s policies and procedures in:

Broward County’s current Exceptional Student Education Policies and Procedures (SP&P) (pages 4a-4n) updated May 2012.

This Document can be accessed from this FLDOE link:

http://www.fldoe.org/ese/ppd/Broward.pdf

From January 2012 - April 2012, Broward County reported no use of mechanical restraint. According to their policies and procedures, Broward County does not use mechanical restraint.

They do use prone restraint and seclusion.

August 2011 - June 2012, Broward County reported 237 restraint related incidents on 137 students. 91% of those students were either students who have autism or emotional behavioral disorders.

During that same time period, Aug 2011 - June 2012, Broward County reported 93 instances of seclusion on 53 students. 94% of those students were students who have autism or an emotional behavioral disorder.

From January - April 2012, Broward also reported the second highest rate of prone restraint use in the state. They reported that 94% of all restraints performed during that period were prone restraints.

Broward County uses Professional Crisis Management Associates (PCM) as their restraint training program.

District PCM Instructors receive initial training and required annual recertification directly from the Professional Crisis Management Association (PCMA). If you would like to learn more about PCMA, their website might be helpful. http://www.pcma.com/

School-based practitioners receive training from the District PCM instructors. Outside of the annually required recertification, refresher training is provided as needed.

According to Broward County’s Policy and Procedures, ESE Center schools and any school with an ESE Cluster Program with a high number of students with emotional behavioral disabilities are required to have a PCM trained team. At all other schools, a team is only trained if there is a student specific need as identified in the crisis section of the student’s PBIB.

Broward County plans to reduce restraint and seclusion by at least 5%.

To reduce restraint and seclusion, Broward County’s plan includes the following:

• Implement student-specific strategies
• Implement district and school strategies for increasing parental involvement
• Introduce or strengthen multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS), which could include school wide positive behavioral support
• Provide additional professional developmental training in positive behavioral support

Clay County - Newest School District Restraint and Seclusion Policies and Procedures

The two places you need to look to find Clay County’s district policies and procedures are:

a) Clay County’s current Exceptional Student Education Policies and Procedures (SP&P) (pages 4a – 4n) updated February 2012 and

b) Clay County’s Policies and Procedures for the use of Crisis Management based on HB 1073 effective July 2010, which is located in Appendix D of the SP&P.

Both documents can be accessed from this FLDOE link:
http://www.fldoe.org/ese/ppd/Clay.pdf

In 2011-2012, Clay County reported no use of prone restraint or mechanical restraint. According to their policies and procedures, Clay County does not use prone restraint or mechanical restraint.

They do use physical restraint and seclusion.

For Aug 2011-June 2012, Clay County reported 155 instances of physical restraint on 65 students. 86% of these students were either students who have emotional behavioral disorders or students who have autism. Clay County also reported 78 instances of seclusion on 32 students. 81% of those students were students who have emotional behavioral disorders or students who have autism.

Clay County uses a curriculum called Safe Crisis Management (SCM) to train its staff in prevention, de-escalation and emergency intervention including restraint. Miami-Dade County also uses SCM.

Clay County requires its trainers to be recertified by SCM once a year during 2-day training. Other certified staff members, such as behavior assistants and ESE teachers, are required to take an annual refresher conducted by the county trainers. If you would like to learn more about SCM, their website might be helpful:
http://www.jkmtraining.com/

Clay County requires that behavior assistants be trained in SCM. In addition, they require that any ESE teacher assigned to a student whose behavior profile indicates a high likelihood of the need for R/S be trained. School administrators are also offered training.

Clay County had a measurable goal for 2011-2012 to reduce the number of students who are restrained more than one time as compared to 2010-2011 and their plan to accomplish overall reduction of R/S includes these activities:

• engage in additional professional development in positive behavior support and safe crisis management
• review data and target students who are restrained repeatedly for student-specific strategies such as evaluating the effectiveness of Positive Behavior Intervention Plans; conducting evaluations/reevaluations and Functional Behavioral Assessments and reviewing IEPs and/or health care plans
• strengthen systems of support including school wide positive behavior support
• collaboration with school-based leadership teams to make data-driven decisions regarding school environments
• increase efforts to improve parent involvement.

Clay County allows seclusion if the facility meets the standards published by the DOE and which has been periodically inspected by the Fire Marshall. Parents/guardians must consent in writing before seclusion can be used.

Duval County - Newest School District Restraint and Seclusion Policies and Procedures

You can find Duval County’s district policies and procedures in:

Duval County’s current Exceptional Student Education Policies and Procedures (SP&P) (pages 4a – 4n) updated February 2012.

The document can be accessed from this FLDOE link:

http://www.fldoe.org/ese/ppd/Duval.pdf

From January – April 2012, Duval County reported that 37% of its restraints were prone restraints. According to their policies and procedures, Duval County does use prone restraint, but not mechanical restraint.

They also use physical restraint and seclusion.

For August 2011-June 2012, Duval County reported 628 instances of physical restraint on 217 students. 89% of these students were either students who have emotional behavioral disorders or students who have autism. Duval County also reported 304 instances of seclusion on 120 students. 68% of those students were students who have emotional behavioral disorders and 15% were students who have autism.

Duval County uses a curriculum called Professional Crisis Management Associates (PCM). Broward, Hardee, Manatee, Martin, Monroe, Nassau, Orange, Putnam, St. Johns, St. Lucie and Seminole Counties also use PCM. However, a few of these counties also use a second curriculum.

Duval County requires its trainers to be recertified by PCM once a year. Duval does not outline which staff it requires to be trained. If you would like to learn more about PCM, their website might be helpful:
http://www.pcma.com/

Duval County only allows use of seclusion in Day Treatment and Center School settings. Training is offered annually but it is unclear who performs the training. Duval County policy requires implementation of the procedures outlined in FLDOE’s Guidelines for the Use of Time-out Technical Assistance Paper (October 2011).

Duval County only allows use of prone restraint in self-contained settings - Day Treatment, Communication/Social Skills, and Center Schools. 

Duval County had a measurable goal for 2011-2012 to reduce the number of students who are restrained by 1%.

Their plan to accomplish overall reduction of R/S includes these activities:

• analysis of incidents
• use of data
• review settings and components
• identification of teachers or other staff in need of additional support and/or training
• reviews of IEPs and behavior plans
• complete required forms

For students who have had eight or more R/S incidents within one month, a review and update of the Positive Behavior Management Plan and Functional Behavioral Analysis/Behavior Intervention Plan is required if deemed appropriate. If no current FBA/PBIP exists, the teacher will schedule an IEP meeting to obtain consent to initiate the FBA within ten days of the incident.

Hillsborough County – Newest School District Restraint and Seclusion Policies and Procedures

The two places you need to look to find Hillsborough County’s district policies and procedures are:

a) Hillsborough County’s current Exceptional Student Education Policies and Procedures (SP&P) (pages 4a – 4n) updated March 2012 and

b) Hillsborough County’s Reasonable Force and Restraint Policy, which is located in Appendix D of the SP&P as well as on the School Board of Hillsborough County’s Bylaws & Policies website.

Both documents can be accessed from this FLDOE link:

http://www.fldoe.org/ese/ppd/Hillsborough.pdf

This link takes you to the Reasonable Force and Restraint Policy where it is posted by the county:

http://www.neola.com/hillsborough-fl/

From January – April 2012, Hillsborough County reported that 49% of its restraints were prone restraints and 6% were mechanical. According to their policies and procedures, Hillsborough County uses both prone and mechanical restraint.

They also use physical restraint and seclusion.

Hillsborough County policies state they encourage that prone restraint only be used to prepare to transport an individual to a safe area. The policies state that ESE Teams provide direct support to school site personnel to help reduce the number of prone restraints.

Hillsborough County policies also say that mechanical restraint is only used when law enforcement or a resource officer is involved and uses handcuffs. The policies also state that ESE Teams provide direct support to school site personnel to help reduce the number of mechanical restraints.

For August 2011-June 2012, Hillsborough County reported 897 instances of restraints on 355 students.

Hillsborough County also reported 362 instances of seclusion on 177 students.

Hillsborough County uses the Techniques for Effective Aggression Management (TEAM) and Nonviolent Crisis Intervention (NCI) programs.

Hillsborough County allows either program to be chosen by the school or the participant, but recommends the TEAM program if staff is dealing with “physically challenging behaviors”.

If you would like to learn more about TEAM and NCI, their websites might be helpful:

http://www.teaminterventions.com/

http://www.crisisprevention.com/Specialties/Nonviolent-Crisis-Intervention

Please note that NCI is a specialized offering from Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI).

Six other counties (Indian River, Lake, Lee, Okeechobee, Sarasota, and Sumter) also use the TEAM program.

TEAM is a 3-day training offered every month. NCI is offered six times each year. The TEAM program requires annual recertification.

Hillsborough County does not require annual recertification for NCI. However, the district’s NCI trainers must be annually certified.

Hillsborough County requires schools to identify staff members assigned to students who may exhibit behaviors that can pose an imminent risk of harm to themselves or others. Those staff members are required to be TEAM certified.

Training in NCI appears to be optional and voluntary.

Hillsborough County’s goal was to achieve a 10% reduction in R/S use.

Their plan for reduction of R/S includes these activities:

• Review behaviors, strategies, PBS and progress monitoring
• Communicate with parents/guardians when behavior issues become evident
• Create/revise FBA/BIP when warranted
• Convene IEP teams
• Develop emergency plans
• Initiate reevaluation if more data and info is needed to address a student’s behavioral needs
• Provide additional professional development in various areas
• Problem solve to make data driven decisions
• Meet monthly at the district level and offer recommendations to area ESE teams

Hillsborough County also has a district policy titled Reasonable Force and Restraint that states that staff may apply reasonable force and restraint “to quell a disturbance threatening physical injury to others, to obtain possession of weapons or other dangerous objects upon or within the control of the student, to defend themselves, or to protect other persons or property”.

Lake County – Newest School District Restraint and Seclusion Policies and Procedures

The two places you need to look to find Lake County’s district policies and procedures are:

a) Lake County’s current Exceptional Student Education Policies and Procedures (SP&P) (pages 4a – 4n) updated March 2012 and

b) Lake County’s Use of Time-Out, Seclusion and Physical Restraint for Students with Disabilities (Policy 5.341), which is located as an attachment at the very end of the SP&P as well as on the School Board of Lake County’s School Board Policies website.

Both documents can be accessed from this FLDOE link:

http://www.fldoe.org/ese/ppd/Lake.pdf

This link takes you to the Use of Time-Out, Seclusion and Physical Restraint for Students with Disabilities where it is posted by the county:

http://lake.k12.fl.us/cms/lib05/FL01000799/Centricity/Domain/92/Policy_5.341_82511.pdf

According to their policies and procedures, Lake County does not use mechanical restraint.

From January – April 2012, Lake County reported that 12% of its restraints were prone restraints.

They also use physical restraint and seclusion.

From August 2011-June 2012, Lake County reported 395 instances of restraints on 175 students. 84% of the students were either students with emotional behavioral disorders or students with autism spectrum disorder.

Lake County also reported 29 instances of seclusion on 16 students. 75% of those were students with intellectual disabilities and 19% were students with autism spectrum disorder.

Lake County uses the Techniques for Effective Aggression Management (TEAM), Nonviolent Crisis Intervention by Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) and Professional Crisis Management (PCM) programs.

If you would like to learn more about TEAM and NCI, their websites might be helpful:

http://www.teaminterventions.com/

http://www.crisisprevention.com/Specialties/Nonviolent-Crisis-Intervention

http://www.pcma.com/

Please note that NCI is a specialized offering from CPI.

Six other counties (Hillsborough, Indian River, Lee, Okeechobee, Sarasota, and Sumter) also use the TEAM program.

Lake County offers CPI initial certifications and annual recertifications and uses CPI for the majority of its school personnel. CPI is offered to all district personnel.

Lake County offers TEAM training to all teachers and staff at two special day school sites (initial and refresher) and all staff who serve ASD and EBD students are included in those trained, as well as school administrators at these two schools.

Lake County uses PCM training at its Lake Hills Center school and all Lake Hills Center school staff are PCM trained.

Lake County’s goal was to achieve a 25% reduction in R/S use.

Their plan for reduction of R/S includes these activities:

Student specific strategies

• Monitoring
• Having IEP teams meet and consider need for FBA/BIP if there are more than 3 restraints on one student in a month.
• Having IEP teams meet and implement proactive supports where there are more than three restraints during a school year.
• Involving the ESE director or designee and additional resources if there are more than five (5) restraints on one student in a month.
• Strengthen implementation of multi-tier systems of support
• Providing additional professional development in PBS
• More schools, increased competency (through the various PBS tiers), training in decision making and progress monitoring, ongoing support and training to school based PBS coaches.
• Increase professional development opportunities for NCI.

Lee County- Newest School District Restrain and Seclusion Policies and Procedures.

You can access Lee County’s policies and procedures in:

Lee County's current Exceptional Student Education Policies and Procedures (SP&P) (paged 4a-4n) updated April 2012.

This document can be accessed from this FLDOE link:

http://www.fldoe.org/ese/ppd/Lee.pdf

For August 2011 - June 2012, Lee County reported 134 incidents of restraint on 88 students. 74% of these students were either diagnosed with autism or had an emotional behavioral disorder.

From January 2012 - April 2012, Lee County reported 44 incidents of restraint. 9% of those restraints were reported as prone restraint.

Lee County reported fewer than 10 incidents of seclusion between August 2011 - June 2012.

Lee County’s updated Policies and Procedures state that neither prone restraint nor mechanical restraint will be used.

Lee County uses both Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI), and Techniques for Effective Adolescent and Child Handling (TEACH). If you would like to learn more about CPI and TEACH, these websites might be helpful:

http://www.crisisprevention.com/

http://www.pesinc.net/

Lee County's policies and procedures state that schools that do not have separate classrooms for students with autism or behavioral needs may opt to offer CPI training. Conversely, schools with separate classes for students with disablities where the school anticipates high levels of behavior may choose either CPI or TEACH. Lee County delegates the decision regarding which program to the school but requires that ESE teachers and paraprofessionals working in seperate classes be trained as well as the administrators of those schools. Additionally all behavior specialists, autism and behavior learning resource specialists, and all DJJ and center school teachers, helpers and administrators are trained.

Training opportunities for both programs are scheduled throughout the year for all teachers.

By the end of the 2011-2012 school year, Lee County plans to reduce use of restraint and seclusion techniques by at least 10% from 1.37 incidents per 100 students with disabilities to less than 1.23 incidents per 100 students with disabilities.

Their plans include:

• Student specific strategies such as reviewing the Individualized educational plans (IEP) and 504 plans
• Meeting to review positive behavior intervention plans (PBIPS) and health plans for effectiveness
• Conducting evaluations/reevaluations and/or functional behavior assessments (FBAs)
• Providing monthly de-escalation and crisis management training opportunities
• Offering autism endorsement classes and opening the PBS module of the endorsement to all teachers
• Using FBAs and BIPs to proactively meet student needs
• Increasing parent involvement

Manatee County- Newest School District Restraint and Seclusion Policies and Procedures

You can find Manatee County’s policies and prodedures in:

Manattee County's current Exceptional Student Education Policies and Procedures (SP&P) (pages 4a-4n) updated June 2012.

This document can be accessed from this FLDOE link:

http://www.fldoe.org/ese/ppd/Manatee.pdf

Manatee County policy states permitted use of both prone and mechanical restraint.

The policy states that when using prone restraint it is “extremely encouraged that prone restraint only be used to prepare for ‘transport’ to a safe area.”

Furthermore, for mechanical restraint, the policy states that “the district only uses mechanical restraint when a law enforcement resource officer is involved and uses hand cuffs.”

From January 2012 – April 2012, Manatee County reported 145 incidents of restraint. 70% of these incidents are prone restraint.

Manatee County also reports 442 incidents of restraint on 205 students from August 2011 – June 2012. Of those students, 53% are diagnosed with autism or emotional behavioral disorder.

Seclusion is used in Manatee County.

From August 2011 – June 2012, 189 incidents of seclusion are reported on 40 students. Of those students, 75% have an emotional behavioral disorder and 3% are diagnosed with autism.

Manatee County uses Aggression Control Technique Training (ACTT) and Professional Crisis Management (PCM) training programs.

According to their policy and procedures on training, “either program can be selected by the school or participant. However, it is recommended that a schools staff utilizes the same program if they are going to use a technique that requires 2 or more persons implement a restraint.” Trainings are three day sessions offered bi-monthly during the school year.

Manatee County plans to reduce the number of restraints and seclusions by 2%.

Plans to reach this goal include:

• Review and monitor student behavior and the use of strategies and positive behavior supports
• Interventions and progress monitoring
• Communicate with parents/guardians
• Create/revise FBA/BIP when warranted
• Convene an IEP team meeting to discuss needs in regards to behavioral support
• Develop and emergency plan
• Initiate reevaluation if more data is needed

Marion County- Newest School District Restraint and Seclusion Policies and Procedures

You can find Marion County’s policies and procedures in:

Marion County's current Exceptional Student Education Policies and Procedures (SP&P) (pages 4a-4n) updated in 2012.

This document can be accessed from this FLDOE link:

http://www.fldoe.org/ese/ppd/Marion.pdf

Marion County does use prone restraint. From January – April 2012, Marion County reported 165 incidents of restraint. 18% of the reported incidents are of prone restraint.

Mechanical restraint is allowed with “express consent of the ESE director, a written plan provided by a district approved board certified Behavior Analyst, and physician’s order.” There we no reported incidents of mechanical restraint between January - April 2012.

From August 2011 – June 2012, 472 incidents of restraint are reported on 214 students. Of those students, 60% are diagnosed with autism or an emotional behavioral disorder.

Marion County also uses seclusion. From August 2011 – June 2012, Marion County reported 425 incidents of seclusion on 111 students. Of those students, 67% are diagnosed with autism or an emotional behavioral disorder.

Marion School District uses Techniques for Effective Adolescent and Child Handling (T.E.A.C.H.) as its training program. The district employs 3 Behavior Analysts, who are approved trainers, to offer advance level 1 and refresher training.

Trainings are open to all district staff involved with students.

Marion County’s goal is to reduce the incidents of restraint and seclusion by a minimum of 5% across the 2012 – 2013 school year.

Activitied include:

• Monthly training to all employees
• Restraint data is monitored and reported on a bi-monthly basis
• Intensive behavior intervention plans will be made to reduce prone restraint
• Continue with T.E.A.C.H.
• Individualized training on campuses that are not meeting the district’s targeted reduction status

Also regarding prone restraint, the plan includes offering more intensive training regarding the de-escalation process to schools reporting the use of prone restraint. And the behavior specialist assigned to the school will be made aware and an intensive behavior intervention plan will be developed to reduce the need for such a strategy to be used.

Miami-Dade County- Newest School District Restraint and Seclusion Policies and Procedures

You can find Miami-Dade County's policies and procedures in:

Miami-Dade County's current Exceptional Student Education Policies and Procedures (SP&P) (pages 4a-4n) updated in April 2012.

This document can be accessed from this FLDOE link:

http://www.fldoe.org/ese/ppd/Miami-Dade.pdf

According to their updated policies and procedures, Miami-Dade does not use prone and/or mechanical restraint.

From August 2011- June 2012, Miami-Dade County reported 207 incidents of restraint performed on 155 students. 93% of those students were either diagnosed with autism or had an emotional behavioral disorder.

From January 2012- April 2012, Miami-Dade reported 91 incidents of restraint. None of these reports were from use of prone or mechanical restraint.
Miami-Dade County does use seclusion.

From August 2011- June 2012, Miami-Dade County reported 13 incidents of seclusion on 12 students. All of these incidents were performed on students diagnosed with autism or on students with emotional behavioral disorders.

Miami-Dade County uses Safe Crisis Management (SCM), as its training program for restraint and seclusion. The training is provided as a 3-day professional development session with annual refresher training available to trained SCM personnel.

With attention to the training process, participants are chosen by a survey completed by school administrators. According to the district’s policies and procedures, the survey asks for the names of staff that come in contact with students who have physical restraint on their IEP or BIP.

Miami-Dade County School District plans to reduce the use of restraint and seclusion by 3% from the baseline data for the 2011-2012 school year.

Activities planned include:

• Reviewing and revising, if needed, BIPs of students with three or more restraint or seclusions
• Public access to the FDOE Brochure for Documenting, Reporting and Monitoring the Use of Seclusion and Restraint (located on the District Special Education Website)
• Use of School-wide positive behavior support
• Problem solve with school administrator to make data-driven decisions regarding school environments

Monroe County- Newest School District Restraint and Seclusion Policies and Procedures

You can find Monroe County’s district policies and procedures in:

Monroe County's current Exceptional Student Education Policies and Procedures (SP&P) (pages 4a-4n) updated in February 2012.

This document can be accessed from this FLDOE link:

http://www.fldoe.org/ese/ppd/Monroe.pdf

Monroe County does not currently use prone restraint or mechanical restraint.

Seclusion and Physical restraint are used. However, all restraint and seclusion reports spanning from August 2011-June 2012 indicated less than 10 incidents filed, if any.

Monroe County uses Professional Crisis Management (PCM), as their current certification program, selected for its “strong legally defensible nature and de-escalation techniques.” Training and re-training is required and the district monitors when teachers’ certifications expire.

Monroe County’s policies and procedures state that “all staff members, parents or administrators can join the training depending on the availability. The district goal is to have a team at each school whom are trained and certified.”

This district aims to reduce the overall use of restraint and seclusion by 1%.

Plans for this goal include:

• Reviewing and monitoring student behavior and the use of strategies and positive behavioral supports
• Progress monitoring
• District wide training on FBA/BIP’s is ongoing throughout the district

Monroe Counts School District reports six schools that are active Positive Behavior Support sites with two schools being Bronze Medal PBS schools.

Nassau County - Newest School District Restraint and Seclusion Policies and Procedures

The two places you need to look to find Nassau County’s district policies and procedures are:

a) Nassau County's current Exceptional Student Education Policies and Procedures (SP&P) (pages 4a-4n) updates November 2011 and

b) Nassau County's General Disciplinary Rule 5.50 - Manual Physical Restraint, which is located in Appendix D of the SP&P and on the Nassau County School Board's website.

The documents can be accessed from these links:

http://www.fldoe.org/ese/ppd/Nassau.pdf

http://www.edline.net/files/_gOAES_/05a5c06cb81630443745a49013852ec4/CHAPTER_5_PART_II_rev_9-2012.pdf adopted November 9, 2010.

Nassau County's General Disciplinary Rule 5.50 states that "manual physicial restraint will be used only as a last resort measure in emergency situations in which aggressive and/or self-injurious behavior presents significant and imminent threat to the physical safety of the student and/or others."

Nassau County’s policies and procedures state that the district does not use mechanical restraint and that prone restraint use is permitted "when absolutely necessary and appropriate.”

From August 2011 - June 2012, Nassau County reported 10 incidents of restraint.

Nassau County's policies and procedures indicate they do not use seclusion. Data from August 2011 - June 2012 indicate less than 10 incidents of seclusion were documented.

Professional Crisis Management Associates (PCM), is used for training in Nassau County. The district maintains its own trainer and requires staff to pass a written test and practical exam. Initial training is a 3-day process.

If you would like to learn more about PCM, their website might be helpful:

http://www.pcma.com/

Annual re-training depends on the level of certification for personnel already certified.

Nassau County plans on reducing restraint and seclusion by 20%. To achieve this goal, plans include the following:

• District and school strategies for increasing parental involvement
• Strengthened multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS)
• Additional professional developmental training in positive behavioral support and crisis management
• Data sharing and problem-solving with school administrators to make data-driven decisions 

Okaloosa County- Newest School District Restraint and Seclusion Policies and Procedures

The two places you need to look to find Okaloosa County's district policies and procedures are:

a) Okaloosa County's current Exceptional Education Policies and Procedures (SP&P) (pages 4a - 4n) updated February 2012 and

b) Okaloosa County's School Board Policy 4-45 Student Restraint and Seclusion adopted December 13, 2010.

Thd documents can be accessed from these links:

http://www.fldoe.org/ese/ppd/Okaloosa.pdf

http://www.okaloosaschools.com/files/school-district/_docs/policies/Students%2011-14-11.pdf

From August 2011- June 2012, Okaloosa County reported 49 incidents of restraint on 31 students. 80% of those students were either students with autism or an emotional behavioral disorder.

Okaloosa County’s policy prohibits the use of mechanical restraint.

Regarding prone restraint, Okaloosa County's policy states that it uses "prone restraint only in the most dire circumstances when a student is in the process of seriously endangering/injuring himself and/or others.” The policy further states that it is a goal to decrese the incidents of prone restraint as much as possible, keeping the student and others as safe as possible and that through training, staff are learning the skills to recognize triggers and intervene with resarch based strategies/interventions to avoid prone restraint.

Restraint reports from January 2012 - April 2012 show that of the 19 reported incidents, none were mechanical restraint and 5% were from prone restraint.

Okaloosa does use physical restraint and seclusion.

From August 2011- June 2012, there were 20 incidents of seclusion reported from Okaloosa County. It should be noted that for the purposes of Florida's reporting requirements, restraint, seclusion and time out are defined in the below Technical Assistance Papers from FLDOE. All seperation that meets the definition of seclusion must be reported as such.

http://info.fldoe.org/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-6212/dps-2011-165.pdf

http://info.fldoe.org/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-6219/dps-2011-145.pdf

The Okaloosa County School District uses two programs: Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) and Professional Crisis Management Associates (PCM) (at one center school).

Training and required refresher training is held annually. Training is open to all school personnel. As a site-based management district, each school determines the appropriate persons to be trained.

Okaloosa County’s goal is to decrease restraint incidents by 10% for the 2011-2012 school year and seclusion incidents by 20% for the 2011- 2012 school year.

To help achieve these goals, Okaloosa County has stated that they will be “providing professional development through Dr. Sylvia Rockwell, a nationally recognized classroom management expert, to teachers, principals and classroom assistants who have difficult students in their classes. Dr. Rockwell is providing face to face training, as well as visiting classrooms and conducting webinars.”

Orange County - Newest School District Restraint and Seclusion Policies and Procedures

You can find Orange County's policies and procedures in:

Orange County's current Exceptional Student Education Policies and Procedures (SP&P) (pages 4a-4n) updated March 2012.

The document can be accessed from this FLDOE link:

http://www.fldoe.org/ese/ppd/Orange.pdf

From January – April 2012, Orange County reported that 17% of its restraints were prone restraints and 20% were mechanical restraints. While not the highest prone use in the state, it is by far the highest use of mechanical restraints.

They also use physical restraint and seclusion.

For August 2011-June 2012, Orange County reported 946 instances of restraints on 300 students. 72% of those students have an emotional behavioral disorder or are diagnosed with autism.

Orange County reports less than 10 occurrences of seclusion used on students.

Orange County uses both Professional Crisis Management Associates and Crisis Prevention Institute programs. Orange County allows either program to be chosen by the school or the participant, but recommends the PCM team focused program if staff is dealing with “ESE students who have intensive behavioral needs that cannot be met safely with CPI.”

Orange County states that CPI is used on all regular education campuses at the discretion of the school site administrator, and PCM is used on all separate day school campuses and designated intensive classrooms.

If you would like to learn more about PCM and CPI, their websites might be helpful:

http://www.pcma.com/
http://www.crisisprevention.com/

Orange County’s goal is to reduce the number of restraint incidents by 25% for the 2011-2012 school year.

Their plans include:

• School Wide Behavioral Support Program
• Weekly support from a district behavior analyst
• Further consultation from the BACB-D (Certified Behavior Analyst, Doctorate Level)
• IEP meetings based on frequency of occurrences

Osceola County- Newest School District Restraint and Seclusion Policies and Procedures

The two places you need to look to find Osceola County's district policies and procedures are:

a) Osceola County's current Exceptional Education Policies and Procedures (SP&P) (pages 4a-4n) updated June 2012 and

b) Osceola County's School Board Policy 5.343 Use of Time Out, Seclusion, and Physical Restraint for Students with Disabilities adopted February 7, 2012.

These documents can be accessed from these links:  

http://www.fldoe.org/ese/ppd/Osceola.pdf

http://www.osceola.k12.fl.us/School_Board_Rules/documents/SDOC_SBR_12-13_080712.pdf

From August 2011- June 2012, Osceola County reported 84 restraint incidents on 59 students. 64% of these students were students with autism or emotional behavioral disorder.

Of the restraints reported between January 2012 - April 2012, 3% were prone restraint.

According to the current Policies and Procedures, Osceola County does not use prone restraint or mechanical restraint.

Osceola County does use physical restraint and seclusion.

From August 2011 - June 2012, Osceola County reported 16 incidents of seclusion.

Osceola County has selected Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) for training. Trainers are certified and are required to go through an annual re-certification process. Annual refresher training is also required.

Osceola County’s goal is to reduce the number of restraints and seclusions by 3% for the 2011-2012 school year. Plans include:

• Continuing to provide CPI training
• District staff will monitor restraint and seclusion incidents to provide targeted assistance
• Workshops for administrators on the needs of students with ASD
• Training offered to ESE teachers providing support facilitation

Pinellas County - Newest School District Restraint and Seclusion Policies and Procedures

The two places you need to look to find Pinella County's current policies and procedures are:

a) Pinellas County’s current Exceptional Student Education Policies and Procedures (SP&P) (pages 4a-4n) updated January 2012 and

b) Pinellas County's Use of Seclusion and Restraint on Students with Disabilities Policy adopted December 2010.

Both documents can be accessed from this FLDOE link:

http://www.fldoe.org/ese/ppd/Pinellas.pdf

This link takes you to the Use of Seclusion and Restraint on Students with Disabilities Policy adopted December 2010.

http://www.boarddocs.com/fla/pcsfl/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=8HMM5T55DDD4#

The policies indicate that seclusion may only be used at Center Schools.

The policies also indicate that restraint shall only be used as a last resort, which is defines as an imminent risk of serious injury or death to the student or others. The policies direct that restraints only be used until the student is no longer an immediate threat. The policies require that students who primary mode is sign language be permitted to have hands free for brief periods unless a supervisor determines a likelihood of harm to self or others.

The policies limit use of mechanical restraint to students residing in contracted residential facilities when authorized by the student's treating physician.

From January 2012 – April 2012, Pinellas County reported 355 incidents of restraint. Of the reported incidents, 9% are from mechanical use and 12% are from prone use.

Pinellas County's current policy indicates that prone restraint will not be used and mechanical restraint will be used.

From August 2011- June 2012, 732 incidents of restraint are reported on 272 students. 72% of those students are diagnosed with autism or have an emotional behavioral disorder.

From August 2011 – June 2012, Pinellas County reported 572 incidents of seclusion on 192 students. 89% of those students are diagnosed with autism or have an emotional behavioral disorder.

Pinellas County uses the Nonviolent Crisis Intervention CPI training program and by policy no employee is permitted to use seclusion or restraint until they are trained.

Pinellas County’s goal is to continue to measure the disaggregated data across variables and focus on an overall 10% decrease in incidents of restraint/seclusion.

Plans to achieve this goal include:

• Review and Discuss disaggregated data on a monthly basis with district leadership
• Follow-up with school administration for schools with high incidents of restraint/seclusion
• Follow-up with school administration for schools with 0 incidents of restraint/seclusion
• Additional professional development

Santa Rosa- Newest School District Restraint and Seclusion Policies and Procedures

You can find Santa Rosa's policies and procedures in:

Santa Rosa County’s current Exceptional Student Education Policies and Procedures (SP&P) (pages 4a-4n) updated March 2012.

This document can be accessed from this FLDOE link:

http://www.fldoe.org/ese/ppd/SantaRosa.pdf

From January 2012 – April 2012, Santa Rosa County reported 13 incidents of restraint. 8% of those incidents were from use of prone restraint while none where from use of mechanical restraint.

Since updating their Exceptional Student Education Policies and Procedures, Santa Rosa County prohibits any use of prone restraint.

Mechanical restraint is allowed but only permitted “based on a recommendation from a licensed Occupational or Physical Therapist for an individual student.”

Santa Rosa County reported 24 incidents of restraint on 14 students from August 2011 – June 2012. Of those students, 43% are diagnosed with autism or have an emotional behavioral disorder.

Santa Rosa County also uses seclusion.

Conversely, Santa Rosa reports less than 10 seclusion incidents, if any, from August 2011 – June 2012.

This School District uses Non-violent Crisis Intervention (CPI) training. Recertification for CPI, 3 hour trainings, must be completed by September 30th or each school year. Recertification must be completed annually in order to keep certification. If recertification is not achieved, initial certification courses are to be taken. Initial certification must be completed by November 15th of each school year. These are 12 hour courses with a required 90% passing rate.

Mandates for CPI certification include:

• All Curriculum Behavior Social and Academic Classroom Teachers and Paraprofessionals
• All Self-Contained Behavioral Focus Classroom Teachers and Paraprofessionals
• All Behavioral Resource Technicians
• One member of Administration from each school
• Ever Dean for Discipline
• Each school in Santa Rosa must  have a CPI certified team of 5 or more individuals

Santa Rosa School District’s goal is to reduce the number of restraint incidents by 10 for the 2011 – 2012 school year. Santa Rosa also plans to reduce the use of secured seclusion from 31 incidents to 25 or less incidents for the 2011 – 2012 school year.

Activities include:

• Focusing intensive positive behavioral supports on Elementary Schools due to the high percentages of restraint and seclusion reported there.

St. Lucie - Newest School District Restraint and Seclusion Policies and Procedures

The two places you need to look to find St. Lucie County’s district policies and procedures:

a) St. Lucie County's current Exceptional Student Education Policies and Procedures (SP&P) (4a-4n) udpated February 2012 and

b) Chapter 3.44 Use of Reasonable Force, Seclusion, and Manual Physical Restraint in Regular and Special Education.

The documents can be accessed from these links:

http://www.fldoe.org/ese/ppd/StLucie.pdf

http://plato.stlucie.k12.fl.us/mis/School+Board+Policies.nsf

According to St. Lucie County’s policies, prone restraint is used. From January - April 2012, St. Lucie County reported 4% of its restraints were prone restraint.

For August 2011 - June 2012, St. Lucie County reported 280 restraint incidents on 142 students. Of those incidents, 54% of the students were either diagnosed with autism or had an emotional behavioral disorder.

St. Lucie County does not use mechanical restraints.

For August 2011 - June 2012, St. Lucie County reported 66 instances of seclusion on 15 students. 80% of these students had an emotional behavioral disorder. However, none of the incidents involved students diagnosed with autism.

St. Lucie County trains for and uses both Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) and Professional Crisis Management (PCM). System selection is based on “identified needs of the school considering a continuum of least to most restrictive techniques.” Annual recertification is required for both programs and refresher training is provided between the required recertification.

In St. Lucie County each school site has an identified team of personnel trained in crises prevention to respond to emergency situations. Employees working in classes with students whose behavioral profiles indicate a high likelihood for restraint or seclusion are trained. St. Lucie County’s policy states that School administrators who supervise the instructional personnel of these students are offered training but there is no statement that training is required.

All behavior technicians are required to participate in trainings.

St. Lucie County plans to reduce the number of students with disabilities receiving restraints more than one time by 10%. They also plan on reducing the total number of restraints by 10%.

St. Lucie County’s plans include:

• Reviewing Individual Education Plans and Behavioral Intervention Plans for effectiveness
• Increasing Parental involvement
• Provide additional training to school sites for establishing crisis response teams (FAST) and crisis management
• Problem solve with school administrators regarding school environments

To the best of our knowledge, these nine (9) counties are the only counties that have authorized use of mechanical restraint in their 2012 updated policies and procedures.

1. Alachua
2. Hillsborough
3. Levy
4. Madison
5. Manatee
6. Marion
7. Pinellas
8. Orange
9. Santa Rosa

To check on the rate of reported use of mechical restraints by these counties during the 2011-2012 school year, visit the Data tab of this topic. And for details regarding each counties policies and procedures, check the Florida Department of Education Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services ESE Policies and Procedures (SP&P) website.

To the best of our knowledge, these twenty-six (26) school districts are the only counties that have authorized use of prone restaint in their 2012 updated policies and procedures.

1. Broward
2. Collier
3. Duval
4. Gadsden
5. Hillsborough
6. Indian River
7. Jackson
8. Liberty
9. Lake
10. Leon
11. Madison
12. Manattee
13. Marion
14. Martin
15. Nassau
16. Okaloosa
17. Orange
18. Palm Beach
19. Polk
20. Putnam
21. St. Johns
22. St. Lucie
23. Sarasota
24. Seminole
25. Wakulla
26. FAU Lab School

To check on the rate of use of prone restraint by these counties during the 2011-2012 school year, visit the Data tab of this topic.

Under construction

Data through July 2011:

• Summary Data

Florida Department of Education aggregated data for the 2011-12 school year:

• January to April by method and type
• IDEA State Advisory ppt July 2012
• Aug-July cumulative 2012
• August to April Restraint by district grade disability
• August to April Seclusion by district grade disability
• August to June various 2012
• SP&P Goals for Restraint and Seclusion by District

August 2012 through October 2012

• Summary (PDF)
• Detail (PDF)

August 2012 through July 2013

• All available data
• Cumulative Data

Florida Department of Education Analysis

• Presentation to the IDEA State Advisory Committee on August 6, 2013

August 2013 through July 2014

• Summary
• Detail

Techniques and programs used by Florida school districts - with links to websites and contact info:

1. Aggression Control Technique Training (ACTT)
2. Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI/NCI)
3. Handle with Care (HWC)
4. Professional Crisis Management Association (PCMA)
5. Safe Crisis Management (SCM) offered by http://www.jkmtraining.com/JKM Training Inc.
6. Techniques for Effective Adolescent and Child Handling (TEACH) offered by http://www.pesinc.net/Professional Education Services
7. Techniques for Effective Aggression Management (TEAM) offered by http://www.teaminterventions.com/TEAMInterventions
8. Violence Intervention Techniques and Language (VITAL)

Florida Department of Education Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services ESE Policies and Procedures (SP&P) website