Students help win passage of new law to limit use of restraint, seclusion of schoolchildren
Four students in Virginia Commonwealth University‘s Master of Social Work program played an instrumental role in helping win passage of a new law that requires new rules to govern the use of restraint and seclusion of students in Virginia’s public schools.
The bill, SB 782, which was approved by the General Assembly with bipartisan support and signed into law by Gov. Terry McAuliffe last week, mandates that the state Board of Education draw up regulations for the practices of restraint and seclusion in elementary and secondary schools in Virginia’s 134 public school districts.
“It’s a great step forward for Virginia’s public schools and for ensuring the safety of students and teachers,” said Megan Kettyle, a master’s student in the School of Social Work, who took part in the effort to pass the bill as an intern with Greater Richmond SCAN (Stop Child Abuse Now).
Following complaints that Virginia schoolchildren — particularly those with autism or intellectual disabilities — were getting hurt while being restrained and secluded in locked rooms, a coalition of disability advocacy and child abuse prevention advocacy organizations began researching the topic and studying how best to solve the problem.
Feature image at top: Students in VCU’s Master of Social Work program – including, from left, Ines Rozenblum, Megan Kettyle and 2014 graduate Lauren Weidner – helped work to win passage of a new law requiring regulation of the use of restraint and seclusion of students in Virginia’s public schools. Another student, Rebecca King, also participated in the effort.
Categories Community, Faculty and staff, Students