Students with Exceptional Needs

Guidelines for Reporting of Corporal Punishment

While the Louisiana Department of Education has conducted surveys on the use of corporal punishment in schools in years past, it has not been required by law to collect information on the use of corporal punishment among school districts. During the 2010 Legislative session, lawmakers passed House Resolution 167, which requires the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to collect specific data on the use of corporal punishment in all public schools and report it to the Legislature prior to the start of the 2011 regular session. Over the last year, the Department has surveyed Local Education Agencies (LEAs) to collect information such as:

  • The number of corporal punishment incidents that occurred in each LEA;
  • The disciplinary infraction and circumstances surrounding each incident of corporal punishment;
  • The type and frequency of behavioral supports provided prior to and after the administration of corporal punishment

In March 2011, the Department issued its report to the House Committee on Education on the use of corporal punishment.

Guidelines for the Use of Seclusion Rooms and Restraint
of Students with Exceptional Needs

In 2010, state lawmakers passed Act 698, which required the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) to develop guidelines for public schools and districts for the appropriate use of seclusion, physical restraint, and mechanical restraint, of students with exceptionalities. Since then, LDOE has worked with parents, local school district personnel, advocates for disabled children, families, and other stakeholders to draft proposed guidelines for consideration by BESE.

However, in the meantime, in 2011, state lawmakers passed Act 328, which requires BESE to go a step further and adopt rules for the appropriate use of seclusion, physical restraint, and mechanical restraint of students with exceptionalities. Additionally, the 2011 legislation provides definitions and calls for mandatory reporting, documentation, and follow-up when seclusion or restraint is used by districts and schools.

LDOE will work with stakeholder groups to draft the proposed rules prescribed by Act 328.  These rules will serve as the basis for amending or finalizing the draft proposed guidelines.