About DOJ’s Efforts to Combat Improper Seclusion

Through vigorous enforcement of Title II of the ADA, the Educational Opportunities Section (EOS) of the Civil Rights Division combats the improper seclusion of students with disabilities in schools. EOS has investigated allegations that school districts have a regular practice of secluding students with disabilities, and of using seclusion without justification and as a substitute for appropriate behavior and classroom management.

EOS has reached a series of settlement agreements in which school districts have agreed to remedy the improper use of seclusion by discontinuing their use of seclusion districtwide and instead putting in place appropriate interventions and supports for students with disabilities. On July 2, 2024, the Section entered into a settlement agreement with the Wichita Public Schools in Wichita, Kansas, to address discrimination against students with disabilities in the district’s use of seclusion and restraint and operation of specialized schools. On April 17, 2023, the Section entered into a settlement agreement with Spokane Public Schools in Spokane, Washington to address the discriminatory use of seclusion and restraint against students with disabilities and the District's failure to use appropriate behavior interventions. On February 16, 2023, the Section entered into a settlement agreement with the Anchorage School District in Anchorage, Alaska to address the discriminatory use of seclusion and restraint against students with disabilities. On December 20, 2022, EOS reached a settlement with Okaloosa County School District in Florida to address the discriminatory use of seclusion and restraint against students with disabilities and the district's responses to allegations of physical and verbal abuse.  On September 12, 2022, EOS reached a settlement with Cedar Rapids Community School District in Iowa to end the District’s use of seclusion for students with disabilities. In December 2021, the Department reached a settlement agreement with the Frederick County Public School District in Maryland. Four months later, the Maryland legislature passed a ban on seclusion in public schools which took effect in July 2022. EOS reached similar settlement agreements with the North Gibson, Indiana School Corporation in December 2020 and with the Covington, Kentucky Independent Public Schools in January 2017.