Pupil discipline: restraint and seclusion: reporting.
If passed, AB 2670 will require educational institutions to monitor and publicly disclose their use of behavioral restraints and seclusion. This includes detailed reporting on the number of instances of mechanical restraint, physical restraint, and seclusion, disaggregated by factors such as race, ethnicity, and gender. Such measures are expected to contribute to improved oversight and protection of students, especially those in special education programs who may be disproportionately affected by these practices.
Assembly Bill 2670, introduced by Assembly Member Weber, aims to amend Section 49006 of the Education Code, focusing on pupil discipline, specifically regarding the use of behavioral restraints and seclusion in educational settings. The legislation seeks to enhance transparency and accountability by requiring local educational agencies (LEAs) to report annually on the use of these practices, including disaggregated data on affected pupils. The bill mandates that reports be posted on the internet websites of the LEAs, thereby ensuring that information is accessible to the public.
The bill highlights potential points of contention concerning the implementation of additional reporting requirements on schools, which could be seen as burdensome by some educational agencies. Furthermore, critics of behavioral restraint practices may view the bill as a necessary step toward safeguarding student rights; however, others may argue that the additional obligations placed on schools could divert resources from other critical educational services. It also raises questions about how effectively the data will be used to improve practices and outcomes for students.