Group seeks federal ban on pinning prone students

A disability rights group is asking the state superintendent of schools for a ban on a specific means of student restraint, saying the practice is dangerous and could lead to death.

Prone restraint is one of five legal means school employees have for getting students under control, but, the report from DRNC concludes, classroom staff often lack the appropriate training in those techniques.

The report cites specific cases in Wayne, Durham, Cumberland and Wake county schools where students were injured by restraints. In Wayne, Durham and Cumberland counties, school officials worked with DRNC to change their practices and staff training.

DRNC and the Wake County Public School System have been unable to reach an agreement to ban prone restraint, the report says.

The group is pressing for federal regulation to standardize how school districts can restrain students.  "With no state or federal laws specifically banning dangerous restraint and seclusion practices, the reforms must be carried out one school system at a time," DRNC wrote in the report.