STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION:
MANUAL OF RULES AND PRACTICES:
RULE 4500 - USE Of RESTRAINT & SECLUSION IN SCHOOLS
(Added 12/10/12)

State Board Rule 4500, The Use of Restraint and Seclusion in Vermont Schools, went into effect on August 15, 2011. Schools will have until September 30, 2011 to meet the training requirements of this new rule.

The purposes of Rule 4500 is to:

• Create and maintain a positive and safe learning environment in schools
• Promote positive behavioral interventions and supports in schools
• Ensure that students are not subjected to inappropriate use of restraint or seclusion

Directory of Recommended Programs that Teach the Prevention and Appropriate Use of Restraint in School Settings
Rule 4500 requires the Secretary to publish a list of recommended restraint training programs. Schools will be limited to using programs on this list to meet the training requirements of the rule or use programs not on the list if the school submits a Program Application Form and, after review, the Secretary agrees that the program meets the purposes of Rule 4500.

The following programs have been reviewed and have been determined to comport with Rule 4500.

This list will be updated as additional programs are approved.

• Crisis Consultant Group, LLC
• Crisis Prevention Institute – Non-Violent Crisis Intervention OSL
• Crisis Prevention & Intervention (CP&I) of NAFI/NFI EMAIL
• Handle With Care Behavior Management System OSL
• The Mandt System OSL
• Professional Crisis Management (PCM) OSL
• Response Training Program OSL
• Safety-Care OSL
• SUPPORT Training EMAIL
• Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI) OSL

Procedure for Inclusion in Recommended Directory of Programs that Teach the Prevention and Appropriate Use of Restraint in School Settings
The Agency of Education maintains the Directory of programs that teach the prevention and appropriate use of restraint in school settings. Inclusion on the Directory is based on a review of information submitted by the training organization.

Organizations interested in having their training program included in the Directory must complete a Restraint Training Program Application WORD and e-mail it to Richard.Boltax@state.vt.us. This application, along, with other available materials (web-site, program descriptions, etc.) will be used to inform decision-making for inclusion in the Directory.

Once received, the Restraint Training Program Application will be distributed to the Rule 4500 Advisory Council. This Council was established to advise the Secretary on actions required by the Rule. The Advisory Council will provide recommendations to the Secretary who will decide whether or not to include a training program in the Directory. Organizations will be notified of the Secretary’s decision within four weeks of submitting the Restraint Training Program Application.

Procedure for Use of a Restraint Training Program Not Listed in the Directory
A school may use a restraint training program NOT listed if it is approved by the Secretary. The school administrator must submit the Restraint Training Program Application WORD demonstrating how the program meets the purposes of Rule 4500.

Once received, the Restraint Training Program Application will be distributed to the Rule 4500 Advisory Council. This Council was established to advise the Secretary on actions required by the Rule. The Advisory Council will provide recommendations to the Secretary who will decide whether the program meets the purposes of Rule 4500.

School administrators will be notified of the Secretary’s decision within four weeks of submitting the Restraint Training Program Application.

Any person who administers a restraint or seclusion procedure shall report the incident to the school administrator as soon as possible, but no later than the end of the school day. Additionally, Rule 4500 requires that each use of seclusion and restraint be documented in a written report containing all of the required information listed in the Rule and sent to the building administrator. The Rule also lists the criteria when reports must also be sent to the Superintendent and when the Superintendent must send the reports to the Secretary. All reports that are sent to the Secretary must use the following required incident report form and must be sent via the U.S. postal service or hand delivered to the Department due to concerns related to confidentiality.

• Restraint/Seclusion Incident Documentation Reporting FormWORD
• Parent/Guardian Notice of Restraint/Seclusion Incident (Sample)WORD

• Restraint and Seclusion: Resource Document from the U.S. Department of EducationPDF
• Complete Text of Rule 4500PDF
• Presentation on Rule 4500POWERPOINT
• Questions and Answers on Rule 4500PDF
• A Strategy for Building AdministratorsPDF

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