Violent and Legal: The Shocking Ways School Kids are Being Pinned Down, Isolated Against Their Will
Carson Luke, a young boy with autism, shattered bones in his hand and foot after educators grabbed him and tried to shut him into a “scream room.” Kids across the country risked similar harm at least 267,000 times in just one school year. More »
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updates since last visitBellwether Behavioral Health Is Controversial Group Home Operator AdvoServ — With a New Name
After two deaths of teenage residents in less than four years, AdvoServ has quietly taken a new name that makes it harder to follow the trail of media coverage, including ours.
Camera Catches Shoving Match with Group Home Worker Before Teenager’s Heart Stopped
A video shows a healthy 15-year-old going into her bedroom at a for-profit AdvoServ facility. Thirty-two minutes later, she had no pulse. Nobody’s saying what happened.
Maryland’s Move to Pull Children From Group Homes Came Too Late for Teenager Who Died
After unannounced inspections revealed deficiencies, Maryland stopped placing young people at Delaware facilities owned by AdvoServ.
Teenage Girl Dies After Incident at For-profit Group Home
The 15-year-old was a resident at a Delaware facility owned by AdvoServ, which has faced decades of reports of abuse.
Florida Cracks Down on Troubled For-profit Facility for the Disabled
After years of reports of abusive treatment, Florida is moving residents out of Carlton Palms.
FDA to Massachusetts Group Home: Stop Shocking Disabled Residents
The government questions whether The Judge Rotenberg Center has been straight with families about the risks of its electrical shock devices and alternative treatments.
Florida Lawmakers Look to Roll Back Favored Status For For-Profit Group Home
Florida legislators are looking to end a “monopoly” written into state law that benefits AdvoServ, a for-profit company with a history of abuse at its facilities for disabled residents.
Kids Get Hurt at Residential Schools While States Look On
Some residential programs for kids have settled on better ways to handle children. But the best practices are almost entirely self-imposed.
What Happened to Adam
It took one mother seven years to learn that the for-profit school she trusted with her son had strapped him down again and again, one time after not picking up his Legos.
Unrestrained
While evidence of abuse of the disabled has piled up for decades, one for-profit company has used its deep pockets and influence to bully weak regulators and evade accountability
Washington Legislature Moves to Limit Schools Pinning Down and Isolating Kids
It’s the latest in a national trend to reduce restraints of school kids.
New York City Lays Out Limits on Restraints And Suspensions
Amid recent calls for reform, New York City’s Department of Education is introducing new restrictions on suspending and restraining kids in city schools.
Connecticut Schools Pin Down and Restrain ‘Staggering’ Number of Kids
A new state report found one public school student was restrained more than 700 times in one year.
Virginia Passes Bill to Rein in Restraints of School Kids
Many schools in the state still have no policies or rules around pinning kids down.
Massachusetts Tightens Rules on Restraining, Secluding Students
Under new rules, Massachusetts schools will not be allowed to use certain techniques to restrain or isolate students as frequently and will have to report all restraints and injuries.
New York City Sends $30 Million a Year to School With History of Giving Kids Electric Shocks
New York City kids make up the vast majority of the students at Massachusetts’ infamous Judge Rotenberg Center, and keep getting sent there despite repeated evidence of abuse.
Los Angeles and New York Pin Down School Kids and Then Say It Never Happened
All school districts in the country are required to tell the federal government how many times kids have been restrained in their schools. But some districts aren't following through.
Federal Investigators Crack Down on Two Virginia Schools’ Use of Restraints
Investigators found that children were being regularly pinned down or isolated and that their education was suffering as a result.
Meet the Groups Fighting Against Limits on Restraining School Kids
Republicans say it is a matter of states' rights.
Transcript: Should Public Schools be Free to Pin Down Students?
Highlights from our live discussion on the widespread restraint and seclusion of U.S. schoolchildren
Journalists: How to Report on Restraints in U.S. Schools
A ProPublica guide to reporting on restraint and seclusion in public schools — sign up to be matched with tips and sources in your state.
Can Schools in Your State Pin Kids Down? Probably.
Many states have little regulation or oversight of such practices. This map shows where your state stands.
Restraint Techniques
A Minnesota Department of Education report shows these three common restraints. So-called prone restraints are known to restrict breathing and can be lethal to children. About half of states don’t have a law prohibiting public schools from using such restraints.
Violent and Legal: The Shocking Ways School Kids are Being Pinned Down, Isolated Against Their Will
Carson Luke, a young boy with autism, shattered bones in his hand and foot after educators grabbed him and tried to shut him into a “scream room.” Kids across the country risked similar harm at least 267,000 times in just one school year.
Do You Know a Child Who’s Been Forcibly Restrained at School?
Help ProPublica investigate the use of forcible holds and seclusion in public schools by sharing your story.
