The investigation was conducted jointly by the Department of Educational Opportunities of the Department of Civil Rights and the U.S. Attorney`s Office for Maryland County as part of a government initiative to combat the illegal segregation, isolation, and restraint of students with disabilities in public schools. The implementation of Title II of the ADA is a priority of the Civil Rights Division. For more information about the Department of Civil Rights, visit its website at www.justice.gov/crt, and for more information about the work of the Department of Educational Opportunities, see www.justice.gov/crt/educational-opportunities-section. The investigation revealed more than 7,250 cases involving 125 5-year-old students who were isolated or retained by staff in non-emergency situations where other less intrusive or harmful interventions should have been used. Each case of isolation involved a student with a disability, although students with disabilities make up only 11 percent of the county`s 45,000 students, officials said. Of the students who were selected, all but one were disabled. “Many of the areas we identified as processes or areas we could improve were things we already do as a school system,” said Eric Louãrs-Phillips©, a spokesman for Frederick County Schools. “From the Archives: School District Receives Injunction Against Students with Down Syndrome Pitting Parents Against Parents The Frederick County, Maryland investigation, which began in October 2020, looked at school data on behavioral interventions and focused primarily on the years 2017-2018, 2018-2019, and 2019-2020. Information on the Frontline Absence Management System can be found here. Almost all of the incidents occurred in three schools with special programs designed to serve students with disabilities or those in need of additional social and emotional attention. As part of the settlement announced Wednesday, Frederick County School officials agreed to take corrective action, including prohibiting the use of segregation; report all cases of restrictions and assess whether the application of restrictions was justified; and provide additional training to staff to respond more appropriately. Eighty-nine percent of the reported isolations and restrictions occurred at Lewistown Elementary School and Spring Ridge Elementary School – the only county schools offering programs for students with “significant social and emotional needs,” and rock Creek School, designed for students with severe mental or physical disabilities.
The deal was detailed Wednesday by U.S. Attorney General Erek L. Barron in Baltimore and Deputy Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department`s Civil Rights Division come as advocates and other public school districts across the country have lobbied to end the indiscriminate application of restrictions and isolation to students with disabilities. The investigation, launched in October 2020, revealed thousands of incidents of isolation and restraint in just two and a half years of schooling. Although students with disabilities make up only 10.8 per cent of students enrolled in the district, every single student in the district was a student with a disability, as were 99 per cent – all but one – of the students the district retained. The district regularly resorted to isolation and restraint in non-emergency situations, rather than using appropriate behavioural interventions tailored to the needs of each student. Research has found that these practices often exacerbate students` distress, with some students injuring themselves and showing other signs of trauma during their isolation. Frederick County public school officials fully cooperated with the investigation and voluntarily reached an agreement to take corrective action to ensure that children with disabilities are not subjected to discriminatory treatment that violates the Americans with Disabilities Act and federal regulations, officials said.
Salary scales have changed. You can now find them here. Some states, including Virginia, have enacted laws to limit the use of restrictions and isolation. Fairfax County last month settled a lawsuit filed by parents and advocacy groups over the treatment of students with disabilities, who claimed students had suffered discrimination, trauma and physical harm due to excessive and inappropriate use of isolation and physical restraint. “We can`t sit back and watch schools isolate children with disabilities thousands of times and call it public education,” said Deputy Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Department of Justice. “The illegal use of isolation and coercion in the district did not help the students; it has led to increased distress and denied them access to a safe and positive learning environment. Frederick County Public Schools understand the important work that awaits us under this agreement and we will ensure that they undertake all necessary institutional reforms to comply with the law. The department`s investigation found that the school district had unnecessarily and repeatedly removed and detained students as young as five, in violation of Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). As part of the settlement, Frederick County will end the use of segregation, review its restraint practices, and train staff in the use of appropriate behavioral interventions for students with disabilities. The Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorney`s Office for Maryland today announced a settlement agreement with the Frederick County Public School District in Maryland to combat the discriminatory use of isolation and restraint against students with disabilities.
The school district cooperated fully throughout the investigation. Under the settlement agreement, the school district will take proactive steps to ensure that its practices do not discriminate against students with disabilities. The district will, among other things: “Every child should feel safe and protected at school,” said U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron of the District of Maryland. “The use of isolated spaces and unjustified physical limitations for young people, especially those with disabilities, falls painfully short of a school district`s responsibility to meet the safety, health and education needs of its students. Students with disabilities deserve a school environment rooted in positive, preventive and supportive teaching strategies. We appreciate the cooperation of the Frederick County Public School District in this investigation and are pleased that the county has agreed to take comprehensive steps to ensure that students with disabilities receive equal educational opportunities.
Individuals in the public can report possible violations of civil rights to www.civilrights.justice.gov/. Track changes due to completion of training points can be requested through HR by submitting your application online. More information on pathway changes for teachers can be found here. Question and answer information about staff reductions (franchise) can be found here Loudoun County School is scrutinized as it cautiously closes disabled students in Prince William schools, students often close, search results.. .