Justice Department Secures Landmark Agreement with Michigan School District to End Discriminatory Seclusion and Restraint of Students with Disabilities
The Justice Department today announced a significant agreement with the Montcalm Area Intermediate School District (MAISD) in Michigan, compelling the district to cease the discriminatory use of seclusion and implement comprehensive reforms to its restraint practices.
This landmark settlement, reached under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), aims to ensure students with disabilities receive appropriate special education services free from traumatic and improper interventions.
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The agreement follows a thorough Justice Department investigation, which the MAISD fully cooperated with. The investigation uncovered a disturbing pattern: students with disabilities were subjected to seclusion and/or restraint on over 2,400 occasions.
Disturbingly, the Department found that the district improperly utilized emergency crisis responses as punitive measures for routine classroom discipline issues, rather than for legitimate safety concerns.
“Students with disabilities should never be discriminated against by experiencing the trauma of seclusion or improper restraint,” stated Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Parents have the right to expect that the school systems they entrust with educating their children do not instead punish their children for having a disability.”
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Under the terms of the settlement, MAISD is mandated to immediately end the use of seclusion. Furthermore, the district will undertake significant reforms to its restraint practices, ensuring they are only used in emergency situations to prevent imminent harm and are never employed as a form of punishment or convenience.
The agreement also requires the district to improve its overall special education services, focusing on positive behavioral interventions and supports to proactively address student needs.
Acting U.S. Attorney Alexis M. Sanford for the Western District of Michigan lauded the district’s cooperation. “This school district serves the most vulnerable Michigan students, young children with disabilities,” Sanford said. “I commend them for entering into this settlement agreement to provide their students with the care and services they need to get the education they deserve.”
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This agreement marks a significant step forward in protecting the civil rights of students with disabilities. It underscores the Department of Justice’s commitment to ensuring all students have equitable access to education in a safe and supportive environment.
The Justice Department will monitor MAISD’s compliance with the settlement agreement to ensure the promised reforms are fully implemented and sustained.
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