Jan 29, 2019, ABC9, Cedar Rapids, IA: U.S. Department of Ed to increase oversight of student seclusion and restraint https://www.kcrg.com/content/news/US-Department-of-Ed-to-increase-oversight-of-student-seclusion-and-restraint--505048121.html WATERLOO, Iowa (KCRG) -- Following an I9 investigation, the U.S. Department of Education has now issued new guidelines around schools using seclusion rooms. It is legal for schools to use seclusion rooms to isolate students having a violent outburst but our investigation found some eastern Iowa school districts over using or under reporting how often those rooms are used. … Waterloo Schools Director of Special Education Ivan Gentry welcomes the new monitoring of restraint and seclusion.
I9 also found the Cedar Rapids School District falsely told the federal government it was not using restraint and seclusion, when it actually used it hundreds of times each school year. The district says it now has steps in place to report the correct numbers. … "On a weekly basis, on a monthly basis, we go through every restraint and confinement incident," said Gentry. … "The Iowa City Community School District is fully committed to providing the highest quality educational experience for all students, and ensuring access to a free and appropriate public education for our students with disabilities. Since the USDE's new initiative is intended to support school districts with providing enhanced services that will improve outcomes for students, the direction of this initiative is consistent with our District’s direction. We welcome any support the USDE can provide which would allow us to continue to further our vision of improving outcomes for students." …