Posted Nov. 3, 2008

A special task force convened by WSSDA has published a report aimed at helping school districts craft policies and procedures regarding the use of physical force in schools.

The centerpiece of the report, developed by WSSDA’s Student Disciplinary Action Task Force, is a model policy and procedure that can be customized by school boards and their administrative teams. While adoption of such a policy is currently optional, the task force report strongly urges all districts to review the report and consider putting a policy in place – especially if they have security personnel in their schools.

The report is the result a law approved earlier this year which directed WSSDA to establish a task force to develop recommendations regarding the use of physical force in schools, including a recommended model policy. Task force members, representing a variety of educational, community and professional stakeholders, reviewed use-of-force statutes from other states, the current laws in Washington regarding use of force, sample school director policies and procedures and various security models used in Washington’s public schools.

The task report emphasizes that districts need to consider a range of issues in addressing the use of force in schools. At a minimum, it said, the district’s policy should describe the use of force authorized within the district, define physical, mechanical and chemical force, prohibit the use of force as discipline, and require adoption of appropriate procedures to implement the policy. It said the accompanying procedure should define terms, outline progressive levels of force, contain descriptions of the appropriate and inappropriate use of force (including provisions for special education students), describe training and reporting requirements for staff, and provide a process for notifying parents.

Other recommended steps include:

• Develop job descriptions for security personnel specifying roles and responsibilities, training required, reporting duties and supervision.

• Draft a written agreement addressing training and supervision, evaluation, and compliance with the district policy and procedure for security personnel employed through a local law enforcement agency.

• Provide staff training on use of force and the district’s policy and procedure, particularly for  staff expected to use physical force, mechanical restraints or chemical sprays.

• Develop a school security operations manual, especially in districts employing security personnel in multiple buildings.

• Create a district-wide reporting system for use-of-force incidents and provide a debriefing opportunity to discuss an incident.

• Develop process to promptly notify parents or guardians whenever there is a use-of-force incident.

• Offer opportunities for community input on use-of-force practices, and include a dispute resolution component in the policy and procedure.

The task force report also provides recommendations to the Legislature on issues that go beyond district policy. Those recommendations include considering the feasibility of requiring mandatory training for security personnel, evaluating the need for school security officer certification and licensure, developing a statewide data collection system for use-of-force incidents, and considering the need for state funding to implement the recommendations.

For additional information about the task force, contact Marilee Scarbrough, WSSDA Director of Policy and Legal Services (see the WSSDA staff list for contact information).

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