Panel receives legislative audit on seclusion and restraint; parents urge mandatory cameras and stronger oversight

BATON ROUGE, La. — The Louisiana Special Education Advisory Panel voted to receive the Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s (LLA) report on seclusion, restraint and alleged mistreatment of children with disabilities in public schools and opened a wide public discussion on next steps, including pending draft legislation from disability advocates.

The audit covered academic years 2015–2022 and included some data through 2023–24. Among its matters for legislative consideration, the audit recommended that the Legislature consider: clarifying or expanding the Department of Education’s authority to monitor seclusion and restraint practices; requiring the Department to verify the accuracy of seclusion/restraint incident reporting; requiring LDOE to review seclusion/restraint and mandatory reporting policies submitted by districts; clarifying BESE authority over professional sanctions; requiring districts to notify LDOE when employees are dismissed for alleged abuse or unethical conduct; and clarifying school camera policy review and parents’ rights to request cameras in self‑contained classrooms.

Panel discussion noted that BESE’s legislative committee had already voted to pursue related changes in the current legislative cycle. The meeting record shows a coalition of advocacy groups — the Developmental Disabilities Council, Disability Rights Louisiana and The Arc of Louisiana — collaborated on draft legislation to address several audit recommendations. The draft, speakers said, would give the department explicit authority to review and, as appropriate, follow up on district policies; require crisis‑management teams and expanded training; prohibit mechanical restraints and dedicated seclusion rooms; reduce the threshold of repeated incidents that trigger district‑level review; and require districts that have not installed cameras in special‑education classrooms to use previously allocated funds to do so.

Panel members and multiple parents urged stronger state oversight and routine video recording. Public commenters recounted incidents they described as unreported or inadequately investigated and asked the state to require cameras with continuous recording and audio in special‑education classrooms. Gladys Mouton, introduced herself as a parent and educator, said the state needs “proper auditing and accountability” to protect students and to identify training needs for educators. Audrey Gillum (Caddo Parish) described repeated uses of seclusion or restraint for her daughter and urged use of available funds to install cameras. Samantha Reed (Livingston Parish) described injuries to her son that she linked to restraint and said she had not received timely incident reports; Reed asked for an independent investigation and more robust enforcement of the state law (citing Revised Statute 17:416 in her testimony). Kelly Yates and Odell Wilmer Jr. urged similar steps and said cameras would protect both students and staff.

The department reminded the panel that LDOE staff may not take public positions on pending legislation but said it would continue to provide technical information when requested. The panel then accepted the LLA report by motion and second; no opposition was recorded in the meeting minutes.

Panel members and members of the advocacy coalition indicated they expect legislation to be prefiled in the near term; advocates said the draft will be shared with the panel once filed. The Department and BESE staff will continue coordinating with legislators and stakeholders on potential statutory changes.

Motion to receive the LLA report carried with no recorded opposition.