Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Public hearing on HCPSS Policy 9,400 draws students, advocates and clinical staff divided over restraint and exclusion rules
Summary
Dozens of students, school psychologists and disability advocates testified at a public hearing on draft Policy 9,400 (Student Behavior Intervention). Speakers praised limits on physical restraint but warned the draft lacks plain‑language protections, parent consent clarity, and stronger complaint procedures.
Howard County Public Schools held a public hearing Wednesday on proposed revisions to Policy 9,400 (Student Behavior Intervention), drawing testimony from students, parents, school psychologists and disability advocates with sharply divided views on restraint, seclusion and discipline.
Several student speakers and school psychologists urged the board to adopt the revised policy, arguing it clarifies that physical restraint and exclusion must be used only in exigent circumstances and that positive behavior supports should be prioritized. “Policy 9,400…defines the…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
