BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) — An audit of the Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) reveals instances where students with disabilities were subjected to physical restraint and seclusion.
The Louisiana Legislative Auditor conducted the audit to evaluate the use of seclusion and restraint on students with disabilities in public schools and to review state laws governing staff abuse allegations.
A 2023 report from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, cited in the audit, found that students with disabilities represent 14% of K-12 enrollment but account for 81% of students physically restrained and 75% of those secluded.
Louisiana does not require monitoring of school systems’ use of seclusion and restraint, but auditors recommend such oversight to ensure protections for students with disabilities, noting that 72% of districts reported zero incidents despite evidence of underreporting.
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) does not address restraint or seclusion directly but requires schools to provide students with disabilities a free and appropriate education tailored to their needs. Louisiana state law, however, includes specific protections, limiting restraint to a last resort for dangerous behavior and banning techniques that put pressure on a student’s chest or back.