Restraint and Seclusion in New Jersey Schools
"If I did this stuff to my kids, they'd be calling DYFS on me. I can't say my kid is melting down, so I am going to lock them in a closet." - Peg Kinsell, Director of Public Policy, SPAN
Although most families probably have no idea they exist, school isolation spaces — known as seclusion closets or quiet rooms — are perfectly legal in New Jersey. The rooms have been used in some public and private schools across the state to isolate students.
Kids are usually placed in the stark, empty spaces alone until they calm down.
In 2017, 91% of NJ students placed in seclusion had disabilities.
Black students make up about 15% of the school population but accounted for 44% of the NJ students put into seclusion in 2017.
Read the entire Special Report from NJ.Com here
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