Congress·In Committee·S. 3448

Senate Bill Would Ban Seclusion, Restrict Physical Restraint in Schools Receiving Federal Funds

Keeping All Students Safe Act

3 months ago·View on Congress.gov

⏸

Stalled

No legislative action in over 90 days.

Legislative Progress

Senate

House

President

Law

Key Points

Bans schools that get federal money from locking a student alone in a room, using devices to restrain them, or using drugs to control behavior.
Allows hands-on restraint only in a true emergency when a student is about to seriously hurt someone, and it must stop as soon as the danger stops.
Requires training for staff who might restrain students, and schools can’t put “planned restraint” into a kid’s education plan ahead of time.
Makes schools notify parents the same day and send a written report within 24 hours after any restraint, then hold a meeting within 5 school days.
Forces states to track and publish yearly data on restraints (including injuries and deaths) and creates grants to help schools reduce restraint use.

EducationCivil RightsDisability RightsConsumer Protection

Impact Analysis

Personal Impact

How this policy affects specific groups of people

Positive Impacts(1)

Student

Helps

Milestones

2 milestones2 actions

Dec 11, 2025Senate

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Dec 11, 2025

Introduced in Senate

What Happens Next

Projected impacts based on AI analysis

Schools that take federal money stop using seclusion, mechanical restraint, chemical restraint, and dangerous holds that can block breathing or blood flow.

If the bill becomes law, students should immediately face fewer high-risk restraint practices. Schools would need to switch to safer ways to handle crises and only use physical restraint in true emergencies.

States build or approve training programs and certify enough staff to respond to crises safely.

Teachers and school staff may have to complete new training and renew it over time. Schools that do not have enough trained staff could struggle at first and may change how they staff high-need classrooms.

States submit their first state plans and publish their first yearly public reports on physical restraint use.

Parents and the public would be able to see how often restraint happens in their area and whether it leads to injury. This may increase pressure on schools with high numbers to change practices.

A national progress check is released, then a final report later.

These reports could lead to updates in guidance, stronger enforcement, or changes in future laws. They also give families and advocates clearer evidence of what is working.

Related News

2 articles

Times Union·almost 3 years ago

Lawmakers renew push for federal limits on restraint and seclusion in school

Lawmakers cited a year-long Hearst Newspapers investigation revealing that schools seclude special education students thousands of times a day. The Keeping All Students Safe Act would block schools from using locked rooms or restraints that restrict breathing, such as prone or supine holds.

CL~

CT Insider·over 3 years ago

Restrictions on harmful school practices have stalled in Congress

The Keeping All Students Safe Act would ban seclusion and mechanical restraints like handcuffs in schools and Head Start programs. Despite support from state attorneys general, the bill faces obstacles in a divided Congress where some administrators argue for local control.