WI schools: 6,222 instances of seclusion; 7,439 of restraint last yr
- The end of childhood
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April 14, 2025, WI Public Radio: Incidents of seclusion and restraint increase in Wisconsin classrooms
The state’s youngest children and students with disabilities were disproportionately subjected to these practices
There were more than 6,222 instances of seclusion and more than 7,439 cases of physical restraint last year in Wisconsin schools, according to new data from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.
The state’s youngest children and students with disabilities were disproportionately subjected to these practices, according to the data.
The numbers represent a 15.3 percent increase in the number of times seclusion was used, and an increase of 16.9 percent in instances where physical restraint was used on students compared to the prior school year.
Among those cases, 2,126 children were secluded and 3,133 were physically restrained, although the numbers don’t indicate whether these events occurred simultaneously.
“The alarming increase in seclusion and restraint incidents is more than just a number — it is a call to action,” State Superintendent Jill Underly said in a statement. “This trend highlights the critical need for adequate school funding, including prioritizing mental health support and providing comprehensive training for our educators.”
Seclusion is when a student is put in a room or area they are physically unable to leave.
Restraint occurs when a student is restrained by another person. This reduces the ability of a student to freely move their body or head. This also includes putting a child in a chair so the child cannot get free.
In 2019, Wisconsin updated its law restricting the use of physical restraint and seclusion in schools to “circumstances where a student’s behavior presents a clear, present, and imminent risk to the physical safety of the student or others.”
Schools have been required to report data about the practices to DPI since the law was updated.
During the 2023-24 school year, students with individualized education programs, or IEPs, comprised 81 percent of all seclusion incidents and 76 percent of all physical restraint incidents reported.
Underly said the reported incidents reflect a system that needs proactive solutions.
Gov. Tony Evers’ proposed education budget proposal includes a $3.15 billion increase in K-12 spending over the next two years.
That money includes $1.1 billion in special education aid funding to support increasing the state reimbursement rate to 60 percent. The reimbursement rate is currently about 30 percent.
“Wisconsin students deserve more support than what our state legislature allocates to special education and what the school funding formula provides,” Underly said. “Our staffing systems are overwhelmed, and we need real solutions to support our educators in these very sensitive and challenging situations.”
Evers’ budget also includes $760,000 over the biennium to increase and improve support for existing mental health training programs available to schools, including the Trauma Sensitive Schools Initiative.
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