Federal news: Congressional Committees focus on ESEA overhaul; advocates warming up to urge passage of Restraint & Seclusion bills in Senate HELP Committee

The two bills that would establish Federal regulation of the use of restraint and seclusion in U.S. Schools and their prohibition in Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), are currently in the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, & Pensions (HELP). The House Committee on Education and Labor is examining the use of corporal punishment in schools and the effect on academic achievement.

Both H.R. 4742 4247and S. 2860 are assigned to the HELP Committee. H.R. 4247: "Keeping All Students Safe Act "  was passed in the U.S. House March 3, 2010; the similar S. 2860 "A bill to protect students from inappropriate seclusion and physical restraint, and for other purposes" was also introduced by Senator Chris Dodd (CT) in December 2009 and assigned to HELP at that time, but has not yet been heard by the Committee.

With the Senate returning from its 2-week break, advocacy groups have begun "phone-in" days for S. 2860, urging Committee action for passage in the current Congress.

On a related note, the House Committee on Education and Labor will be holding a Healthy Families and Communities Subcommittee meeting on Thursday, April 15, 2010, 10:00 AM, 2175 Rayburn H.O.B Washington, DC. Witness to be announced.

The topic of the hearing is "Corporal Punishment in Schools and its Effect on Academic Success".

Both Committees are also actively taking testimony in the overhaul and re-authorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), currently known as "No Child Left Behind".

Past blog post
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
U.S. House approves H.R. 4247: The Keeping All Students Safe Act - bill to restrict use of restraint and seclusion in U.S. schools


© 2010 Regina G. Claypool-Frey
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