Special Education Complaint Portal

Use of Seclusion and Restraint in Public Schools

The Virginia Board of Education has adopted Regulations Governing the Use of Seclusion and Restraint in Public Elementary and Secondary Schools in Virginia effective on January 1, 2021. These new regulations cover the following items:

• The definitions of “Seclusion” and “Physical restraint”
• When can schools use Seclusion or Restraint?
• When are schools prohibited from using Seclusion or Restraint?
• What kind of training must school personnel receive?
• What notification is required to the student’s parent or guardian?
• School policies and procedures must be posted and publicly available.

Special Education Complaint Portal

If you believe that a child has been subjected to unnecessary seclusion or restraint, or your school division is not following the new regulations, please complete this form to report your concerns or call dLCV at 1-800-552-3962.