JKAA
Brockton Public Schools
School Committee Policy
PHYSICAL RESTRAINT
The purpose of 603 CMR 46.00 is to ensure that every student participating in a
Massachusetts public education program is free from the unreasonable use of physical
restraint. Physical restraint shall be used only in emergency situations, and with extreme
caution, after other less intrusive alternatives have failed or been deemed inappropriate.
School personnel shall use physical restraint with the following two goals in mind:


To administer a physical restraint only when needed to protect a student and/or a
member of the school community from imminent, serious, physical harm; and
To prevent or minimize any harm to the student as a result of the use of physical
restraint.
Nothing in this policy shall be construed to limit the protection afforded publicly funded
students under other state or federal laws, including those laws that provide for the rights of
students who have been found eligible to receive special education services. In addition,
nothing in this policy precludes any teacher, employee or agent of a public education program
from using reasonable force to protect students, other persons or himself/herself from an
assault by a student.
Definitions
1. Physical escort: touching a student on the hand, wrist, arm, shoulder, or back for the
purpose of redirecting a student away from a potential or actual danger or directing the
student to a safe location
A physical escort is not a physical restraint.
2. Physical restraint: physically holding a student in order to restrict the student’s freedom
of movement
Nothing in 603 CMR 46.00 precludes any teacher, employee or agent of a public education
program from using reasonable force to protect students, other persons or themselves from
assault or imminent, serious, physical harm.
3. Extended restraint: a physical restraint the duration of which is more than twenty (20)
minutes
Extended restraints require additional written documentation as described in 603 CMR
46.06.
4. Seclusion restraint: confinement of a student alone and unmonitored in a limited physical
space as a means of limiting his/her freedom of movement
The use of “time out” procedures during which the student is visually monitored by school
staff at all times shall not be considered “seclusion restraint.”
5. Crisis Response Team: at least three staff members from each school who have been
appropriately trained in de-escalation and physical restraint techniques
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Additional personnel from each school should be trained in case a CRT member is
unavailable during crisis situations.
Restraint Protocol
1. Each school shall provide staff with a code response procedure to access members of the
Crisis Response Team in the event of a potential crisis situation.
2. Upon arrival, the Crisis Response Team shall assess situational factors and, if appropriate,
attempt to de-escalate the student in crisis through verbal interventions. Such procedures
shall include, but not be limited to:
A. Attempting to redirect the student back on task and set appropriate limits.
B. Reinforcing other students who are behaving appropriately.
C. Engaging the student in a discussion of his/her behavior.
D. Redirecting the student to a designated area.
E. Providing an opportunity for the student to vent in a supportive atmosphere.
3. If such de-escalation efforts are unsuccessful the members of the Crisis Response Team
shall coordinate a physical escort (two person) to a specific designated area. All efforts
should be made to utilize available adults to remove other students from the immediate
situation to a neutral location.
4. The Crisis Response Team members may decide to utilize a physical restraint when all
less restrictive alternatives have been determined inappropriate or ineffective or have been
tried and have failed and the student’s behavior continues to pose a threat of injury to self
and/or others.
5. If physical restraint is necessary the Crisis Response Team members shall utilize the least
restrictive method necessary, available and appropriate to the situation subject to the
safety requirements set forth in 603 CMR 46.05(5). If restraint is warranted, typically, a
standing restraint is less restrictive than a sitting restraint. More restrictive positions, such
as a floor or prone restraint, shall be used only if less restrictive positions are insufficient,
in the judgment of the Crisis Response Team members, to provide safety for the student or
others present.
6. The Crisis Response Team members shall discontinue such restraint as soon as possible
and preferably within five (5) minutes. If, due to unusual circumstances, a restraint
continues for more than twenty (20) minutes, it shall be considered an “extended restraint”
for purposes of the reporting.
7. Whenever safely possible, one person of the Crisis Response Team shall function As the
observer to the restraint and remain in contact with the building administration.
8. Following any restraint activity, the student shall be referred for treatment to the School
Nurse and the Crisis Response Team shall document the restraint activity.
Prohibitions
Physical restraint is prohibited in the following circumstances:
 as means of punishment; or
 as a response to property destruction, verbal threats, disruption of school order or a
student’s refusal to comply with a school rule or staff directive, unless the student’s
behavior poses a threat of injury to self and/or others.
 Seclusion restraint is forbidden by the Brockton Public Schools.
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Training and authorization of the Crisis Response Team
The Brockton Public Schools personnel who are designated as part of the Crisis Response
Team shall be trained and authorized to use the following methods of physical restraint with
an increasing level of restriction:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Team Control Position (CPI Model)
Children’s Control Position (CPI Model)
Children’s Control Position – Seated
Side-by-side Prone Restraint
Prone Restraint-Modified
Training
1. At the beginning of each school year, the principal of each school shall provide an
orientation for all staff describing the school’s restraint procedure and a method for
accessing the members of the Crisis Response Team. Such training should also include a
description of approved de-escalation techniques to be used in potential crisis situations.
2. Identified members of the Crisis Response Team shall participate in a comprehensive
training program at the beginning of the school year. The program should include
prevention, identification, and simulated hands-on training in the proper use of restraint
(ten hours). Members who have completed such training in previous school years shall be
required to participate in refresher training at least once during current school year.
Reporting Requirements
1.
The Crisis Response Team shall notify the building administrator immediately following
any initiated restraint activity. The crisis intervention follow-up form shall be completed
by the Crisis Response Team members and submitted to the building administrator before
the end of the school day.
2. The building administrator shall review the written report and forward it to the Office of
the Deputy Superintendent within twenty-four hours.
3. The building administrator or his/her designee shall verbally inform the student’s parents
or guardian of the restraint as soon as possible, and by written report postmarked no later
than two school working days following the use of restraint.
4. When an extended restraint has been administered, the school shall provide a copy of the
written report to the Department of Education within five school working days of the
administration of the extended restraint. The school shall also provide the Department all
written reports of physical restraints administered to the student within a thirty-calendar
day time period of the date of the extended restraint.
Referral to law enforcement or other state agencies
Nothing in these regulations prohibits:
1. The right of any individual to report to appropriate authorities a crime committed by a
student or other individual.
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2. Law enforcement and judicial authorities from exercising their responsibilities with regard
to the application of federal and state law to crimes committed by any person.
3. The exercise of an individual’s responsibilities as a mandated reporter pursuant to MGL c.
119, § 51A.
These regulations shall not be used to deter any individual from reporting neglect or abuse to
the appropriate state agency.
LEGAL REF.:
J. Students
M.G.L. c. 69, § 1B, and c. 71, § 37G.
Board of Education 603 CMR 46.00
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