NSBA's Letter to the House Education Committee: January 25, 2010

The Honorable George Miller
Chairman,
Committee on Education and Labor
United States House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

Re: National School Boards Association (NSBA) Support for Preventing Harmful Restraint and Seclusion in Schools Act, H.R. 4247

Dear Chairman Miller:

The National School Boards Association (NSBA), representing over 95,000 local school board members through our state school boards associations, is pleased to give our support to the Preventing Harmful Restraint and Seclusion in Schools Act, H.R. 4247.

We believe that it is important to address the inappropriate use of restraints and seclusion on not only students with disabilities but on all students. Elected to represent the interests of all students, the goal of local school boards in this area is to promote health, safety, and dignity of the nation’s schoolchildren and teachers – and to provide an environment that is conducive to learning. We believe that this legislation will meet our safety and other goals for students and school personnel while providing sufficient authority and flexibility to schools and school districts in training school personnel based on their unique needs. The legislation is strategic and balanced in dealing with such factors as training, prohibiting the use of certain practices, and promoting positive learning supports.

Additionally, we expect that Congress will not only establish federal policy but will also authorize and appropriate the necessary funding levels to assist states and local school districts in implementing these new requirements, particularly for data collection, reporting and training of school personnel.

We look forward to working with you and your staff in finalizing this important legislation.

Sincerely,

Michael A. Resnick
Associate Executive Director