Justice Department and Maryland School District Reach Settlement on Seclusion and Restraint
Last week, the U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) reached a settlement with Maryland’s Frederick County Public Schools on discriminatory seclusion and restraint practices used against students with disabilities.
Beginning on October 16, 2020, the DoJ began investigating whether Frederick County’s seclusion and restraint practices violated Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Its findings conclude the District failed to use proper behavioral interventions and to adequately train and hire appropriate staff, resulting in the improper seclusion and restraint of students with disabilities.
As part of the settlement, the District will prohibit seclusion, formalize its restraint practices, and provide proper training and professional development for behavior support specialists.