Restraint and Seclusion: Calculation, Definitions, and Frequently Asked Questions

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Calculation/Overview

Count of Restraints & Seclusions

This is the total count of restraints and seclusions that occurred during the last school year. If a student was restrained or placed in seclusion more than once, each count would be included in this calculation.

Count of Unduplicated Students Restrained & Placed in Seclusion

The is the total number of students who were restrained or placed in seclusion one or more times during the school year.

Data Notes

During the 2022 legislative session, restraint and seclusion were added as reporting categories within the Learning Environment District Profile reports (HB 22-1376).

CDE staff continue to develop additional training and updated guidance and work with districts to ensure accurate reporting of data with these changes to collections.
In 2024-25, this data was collected through the Student Discipline snapshot.
Starting in 2025-26, The Student Restraint and Seclusion data file will collect restraint and seclusion data previously included in the Discipline Interchange and Snapshot and data collected in the Protection of Persons from Restraint Act (PPRA) collection.

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Definitions

Restraint

Physically Restrained is defined in statute and Colorado State Board of Education Rules; both definitions are below.

26-20-102(5): “Physical restraint” means the use of bodily, physical force to involuntarily limit an individual’s freedom of movement for more than one minute; except that “physical restraint” does not include the holding of a child by one adult for the purposes of calming or comforting the child.

1 CCR 301-45.2.00(8)(c): “Physical Restraint” means the use of bodily, physical force to involuntarily limit an individual’s freedom of movement.

Seclusion

Seclusion is defined in statute and Colorado State Board of Education Rules; both definitions are below.

26-20-102(7) “Seclusion” means the placement of an individual alone in a room or area from which egress is involuntarily prevented, except during normal sleeping hours.

1 CCR 301-45.2.00(9) “Seclusion” means the placement of a student alone in a room from which egress is involuntarily prevented. “Seclusion” does not mean:

2.00(9)(a) Placement of a student in residential services in his or her room for the night; or
2.00(9)(b) “Time-out” which is the removal of a student from potentially rewarding people or situations. A Time-out is not used primarily to confine the student, but to limit accessibility to reinforcement. In a Time-out, the individual is not physically prevented from leaving the designated Time-out area. Such a Time-out requires effective monitoring by staff.

Instructional Program/Service Type

Services provided by schools and/or districts in the current year for students identified as belonging to one or more of the categories below:

Students with Disabilities: Students who have been formally identified as having physical or health conditions that may have a significant impact on the student’s ability to learn and therefore warrant placing the student on an Individual Educational Program (IEP).
Students with a Section 504 Plan: Student who has been identified as having a disability under regulations implementing Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 but may or may not be eligible for special education placement under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
English Learners (Multilingual Learners): Students who have been identified as Non-English Proficient (NEP), Limited English Proficient (LEP). Non-English Proficient is defined as a student who speaks a language other than English and does not comprehend, speak, read, or write English. Limited English Proficient is defined as a student who comprehends, speaks, reads, or writes some English, but whose predominant comprehension or speech is in a language other than English.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: When is this data posted each year?

A: This data is posted annually in the Fall.

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Student Data Privacy

Restraint & Seclusion Data is published at the Local Education Agency (LEA) level and suppression rules are applied to ensure student data privacy.

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For additional information, email the Student Restraint and Seclusion data collection inbox