Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson, a Democrat and former state attorney general, signed a new law that sharply restricts school staff's ability to use physical restraint or isolation on students. The law, passed after several failed attempts in the bicameral legislature where Democrats hold the majority, aims to create safer, healthier school environments by reducing the use of traumatizing practices.
School staff are now prohibited from using handcuffs, zip ties, straps, pepper spray, tear gas or sedatives to restrict a student's movement. Also banned are holds that could impede a child's breathing or circulation, such as pinning a student against a wall.
The bill's lead sponsor, Rep. Liza Callan, called its passage "a good, solid start." She noted the law sets clear definitions and prevents escalation of the problem, especially given limited funding for teacher professional development.
The law does not explicitly ban seclusion — the practice of locking a student alone in a room — but it bars school districts from building or retrofitting rooms for that purpose. The text of the law also states lawmakers' intent to eliminate seclusion in preschool through 12th-grade schools by 2031, offering alternatives and training for teachers. Implementing that intent across the state's roughly 295 independent school districts, each with its own school board, could produce inequities, with wealthy districts adopting changes faster than poor rural areas.
Advocacy groups' data show that restraint and seclusion disproportionately affect vulnerable groups of students. Although students with disabilities made up about 15% of enrollment in the 2020–21 school year, they accounted for more than 92% of restraint incidents and 96% of seclusion incidents. Black, multiracial, homeless students and foster children also experience these practices at higher rates.
Disability rights advocates have pushed for years to ban these practices, arguing they are harmful and traumatic. "Seclusion is psychologically deeply harmful, much like solitary confinement," said attorney Andrea Kadlec, noting it can lead to long-term effects including post-traumatic stress disorder.
But some educators and school staff have expressed concern that the law removes their last tool to protect themselves or other students in situations where a student's behavior poses an immediate threat. They also emphasized the need for funding for professional training and for addressing staff shortages, particularly among paraprofessionals who assist teachers and work with students with challenging behaviors. The shortage of such specialists is driven by low pay and heavy workloads.
Under the final version of the law, restraint or seclusion is allowed only as an extreme measure when there is an imminent threat of serious physical harm to the student themselves, their peers or staff. This clearly separates those practices from disciplinary punishment. Restraint may also be part of a student's Individualized Education Program (IEP), but only at a parent's voluntary written request and with confirmation of medical necessity.
The law imposes strict reporting requirements. After an incident, the school must hold a debrief with the parents and staff, notify parents verbally within 24 hours and in writing within five business days. Staff must notify administration as soon as possible and file a detailed report, including a description of causes and any injuries.
The law was significantly pared down from earlier versions and includes only changes that do not require additional state funding. Washington Education Association (WEA) President Larry Delaney said that in this form there is less need for large-scale staff training, and the union supported the enacted version. As the state's largest teachers' union, WEA has substantial influence on education policy through lobbying and candidate support.
Overall the law is seen as an important step in the right direction. As Janice White, the mother of an autistic son who was repeatedly restrained and secluded in elementary school, said, the approach to student behavior needs to change. "We need to focus on changing how we think about student behavior," she said, emphasizing the importance of prevention.
Based on: New law limits when school staff can restrain or isolate students