Schools in Michigan are allowed to restrain or seclude students even in non-emergency situations. But that may be about to change under a package of bills Lieutenant Governor Brian Calley is backing.
The bills would set specific guidelines for when seclusion and restraints could be used and would require schools to report when it happens.
The Lieutenant Governor says the goal is to respect students' dignity while making sure everyone is safe in school. "I think a lot have just always done it that way and don't really know that the rest of the world, the health care community and even in our jails and prisons have moved beyond those types of strategies."
The bills also set up an intervention system that schools could use to get situations under control before they turn into emergencies.
A bipartisan group of lawmakers support the legislation.
