Committee Hears Bill to Limit Restraint and Isolation in Washington Schools; Sponsors Emphasize Training, Monitoring

The Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee on an unspecified date heard Senate Bill 5,654, which would further restrict the use of restraint and isolation of students in public schools and related educational programs and expand state monitoring, training and reporting requirements.

Supporters said the bill strengthens protections for students while providing funding and technical support for staff; opponents and some school staff said the policy will require sustained funding, staffing and time to implement safely.

The bill would add roughly 16 new definitions, apply requirements to institutional educational providers and authorized entities that deliver special education services, and explicitly prohibit certain categories of restraint and isolation, including chemical and mechanical restraints and restraints that are life-threatening. Beginning Aug. 1, 2027, the bill would prohibit isolation for students in prekindergarten through fifth grade unless the parent or guardian requests and provides written consent and two licensed health professionals have recommended isolation and provided instructions. It would also prohibit designing or remodeling buildings to include a room or other enclosed area solely for the purposes of isolating a student and—starting Aug. 1, 2030—would prohibit constructing or equipping such a room for pre-K through fifth grade.

The bill requires districts and other providers to adopt policies and procedures that meet the bill’s requirements, to periodically update those policies…